The figure was released at a conference to launch production and business plans for the domestic shrimp industry in 2019 that was held on March 13 by MARD in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang, one of large shrimp producers in the country.
The directorate said the industry was expected to achieve a total shrimp output of 780,000 tonnes this year, including 300,000 tonnes of tiger shrimp and 480,000 tonnes of white-leg shrimp.
In 2019, the local shrimp industry would have many opportunities but also face great challenges in export.
The hot weather and salinity can impact farming areas, according to the directorate.
To achieve the goal, Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said enterprises should focus on improving the competitiveness of Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
However, Vietnamese shrimp products still faced various kinds of barriers such as anti-dumping tax and low price of shrimp imported from India. Meanwhile, key markets have strengthened quality control and food safety, including the US, the EU and Republic of Korean markets.
Each year, Vietnam still imports 200,000-250,000 units of white-leg shrimp parents, satisfying 90 percent of the domestic demand.
Meanwhile, the price of Vietnamese shrimp is still higher than other countries because the industry has to depend on imports of food and medicine for shrimp production.
Many farms have not received investment for infrastructure and technology, especially in extensive farming areas. There are still many small-scale farms lacking capital and investment opportunities.
According to the Directorate of Fisheries, the total area of farming brackish shrimp in 2018 reached more than 736,000 hectares, 3 percent higher than the previous year, including 632,000 hectares raising tiger prawn and 104,000 hectares rearing white-leg shrimp. Provinces having increased farming areas include Bac Lieu, Kien Giang, Tra Vinh and Soc Trang.
Total output of brackish water shrimp in 2018 reached more than 762,000 tonnes, a year-on-year surge of 6.3 percent, including 298,000 tonnes of tiger prawn and 464,000 tonnes of white-leg shrimp.
However, Vietnam’s shrimp industry only achieved an export value of 3.6 billion USD last year, a year-on-year reduction of 7.8 percent.
The shrimp exports to some major markets dropped in 2018 against the previous year, including mainland China and Hong Kong (down 28 percent), the EU (down 2.8 percent), the US (down 3.3 percent), Japan (down 9.2 percent) and Taiwan (2.6 percent).
VNA
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
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