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) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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