Challenges for the whole industry
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam's shrimp exports reached a record number of $4.3 billion in 2022, up 11% compared to 2021. This is the highest number ever. However, entering 2023, the situation has become more difficult.
Despite the impressive result in 2022, Vietnamese shrimp enterprises face many difficulties in 2023. Those are the challenges of having to compete more strongly with Ecuador and India. Moreover, the imported price of shrimp in the world market has decreased, while the price of raw shrimp in Vietnam tends to increase, creating obstacles in mobilizing raw materials for processing and export.
Viet Uc is the first corporation that has officially closed the entire shrimp value chain
Opportunities with chain linking – Enhance brand value
To promote shrimp exports in 2023 and the coming years, there are many solutions offered. The first solution is to focus on improving quality, linkages between localities participating in the shrimp chain, ensuring the continuous operation of the shrimp production chain.
Currently, in the whole industry, Viet Uc is the first corporation that has officially closed the entire shrimp value chain, from broodstock, to shrimp seed, to commercial shrimp farming, and recently a seafood processing factory to launch final products named: Perfect shrimp.
Viet Uc is also a pioneer in the application of high technologies and towards sustainable values for the entire industry. The processing factory officially went into operation, applying many modern technologies, especially being able to automate over 70% of production processes.
Viet Uc is not only proactive for each segment in the whole chain but also sharing for shrimp farmers effective farming solutions, joining hands to help farmers overcome difficulties
Inputs to the Factory will be shrimps raised according to a clean process, without the use of antibiotics, chemicals, traceability, outstanding color and taste, ready to meet export standards from the most strict and demanding markets.
With the desire to raise the bar for Vietnamese shrimp, Viet Uc is not only proactive for each segment in the whole chain but also sharing for shrimp farmers effective farming solutions, joining hands to help farmers overcome difficulties, improve profits and especially raise the image and brand of Vietnamese shrimp internationally.
Although there is still a lot of work to be done, the solutions from “leading birds” like Viet Uc will be leveraged to create a common voice, together to create cohesion to bring the industry to sustainable development, contributing to building Vietnamese shrimp brand.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn