Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the US – the second largest market after China – are under heavy pressure from taxation policies, causing orders from exporters to stagnate. Compared to rivals such as Ecuador (import tariff only 15%) or Indonesia and the Philippines (19%), Vietnam is gradually losing competitiveness with a 20% countervailing duty. The industry is entering a difficult phase as preliminary results of POR19, announced by the US Department of Commerce in June, showed sharply higher anti-dumping duties for many major exporters. If these rates are not adjusted in the final results due in December, Vietnamese shrimp may risk losing access to the US market.
China & Hong Kong continue to lead with USD 710 million (up 78%), accounting for 29% of total shrimp exports. In July alone, exports reached USD 115 million, up 63% year-on-year. Strong recovery in domestic consumption and import demand, particularly for lobster products, along with geographical advantages and low logistics costs, helped Vietnam compete more effectively with rivals.
CPTPP bloc recorded USD 699 million in seven months, up 36%, accounting for 28% of total value. Japan – the largest market within the bloc – reached USD 320 million (up 15%). In July alone, exports to Japan slipped slightly by 1.4% year-on-year as the weak yen continued to weigh on purchasing power. However, Japanese buyers still favor value-added and ready-to-eat products, which helps maintain stable orders.
EU market reached USD 309 million (up 17%), with Germany and France posting strong growth of 28% and 17% respectively. In July, exports to the EU reached USD 57 million, up 21% from the same period last year. The bloc benefits from EVFTA, stable demand as inflation eases, and a preference for value-added processed products.
South Korea imported USD 203 million (up 13%), accounting for 8% of total shrimp exports. This is a stable market thanks to demand for processed shrimp and convenience products for the HORECA channel, with consumption holding steady amid relatively stable domestic economic conditions.
US market: In July 2025, exports reached only USD 63 million, down 29% year-on-year. Cumulatively for 7 months, exports reached USD 404 million, up only 3%. After strong growth in May–June from “tax-avoiding” orders, exports to the US slowed as the 20% countervailing duty on Vietnamese shrimp began to bite, coupled with the risks of high anti-dumping and countervailing duties. Narrower profit margins have forced exporters to reconsider pricing strategies and order structures.
White leg shrimp remains dominant in Vietnam’s export structure. In the first seven months, white leg shrimp exports reached USD 1.6 billion, accounting for 63% of total shrimp export value, up 8% year-on-year. Black tiger shrimp exports reached USD 260 million (up 5%), accounting for 10%. Other shrimp exports totaled USD 657 million, soaring 117%, driven by frozen shrimp orders from Asian markets.
Outlook: For the full year, shrimp exports could reach USD 3.6–3.8 billion if exporters continue to capitalize on Asian markets, the EU, CPTPP members, and expand value-added products to Japan. However, growth momentum may slow in the second half of the year if the US continues to cut imports from Vietnam due to countervailing duties and trade defense measures. Meanwhile, rivals such as Ecuador, Indonesia, and the Philippines are maintaining lower import tariffs, creating stronger competitive pressure. To sustain growth, Vietnamese exporters need to diversify markets, increase the share of processed products, comply with stringent certification requirements, and develop pricing strategies that align with international policy shifts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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