EU Shrimp Imports Maintain Growth in 2025
According to data from Shrimp Insight, during the first ten months of 2025, the EU imported approximately 374,500 tonnes of frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS03061792) and value-added processed shrimp (HS160521, 160529), up 18% year-on-year; import value surged by 21% to €2.35 billion. This growth reflects relatively resilient consumer demand, particularly in Southern Europe and North-Western Europe, which collectively account for over 95% of the bloc’s total shrimp imports.
Within this landscape, Ecuador continued to solidify its position as the leading supplier, exporting over 203,700 tonnes, up a sharp 37%, far outpacing other sources. India saw robust growth, rising to approximately 51,500 tonnes (up 33%), while Vietnam ranked third with nearly 46,000 tonnes (up 12%).
Although the market share gap between Vietnam and India remains relatively narrow, the distance from Ecuador’s dominant position continues to expand.
Animal welfare emerging as a mandatory technical requirement
Against this backdrop, new animal welfare standards are emerging as a critical non-tariff barrier. From 2026, many major retail chains in the EU and the UK will require warm-water shrimp to be fully stunned - typically using electrical methods - prior to ice-slurry chilling, replacing traditional thermal shock methods. Retailers such as Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have already incorporated this into their sourcing policies, directly linking compliance to supplier eligibility.
Unlike conventional non-tariff barriers, this requirement cannot be addressed through documentation or certification. Exporters are compelled to reinvest in harvesting and primary processing technologies, redesign operational workflows and tighten controls over live shrimp logistics. The capital expenditure required for electrical stunning lines is substantial, posing a challenge as profit margins across the shrimp sector continue to tighten.
Intensifying competition in the EU market
From a competitive perspective, animal welfare standards may indirectly favor countries accustomed to large-scale, low-cost production models with high certification rates. Ecuador, which holds a commanding market share in the EU, possesses a significantly higher proportion of ASC-certified shrimp compared to Vietnam and benefits from vertically integrated production chains that facilitate the adoption of new technologies. India, leveraging its scale and cost advantages, is also rapidly expanding its presence as other markets, notably the U.S, become increasingly unpredictable.
Meanwhile, according to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached over $562 million by December 15, 2025, up 22% year-on-year, underscoring the EU’s continued importance and remaining growth potential. However, failing to adapt to these emerging standards risks rendering current growth short-lived.
Adapting to new standards to sustain position in the EU
Animal welfare is no longer matter of corporate image or pure social responsibility; it is becoming a prerequisite for market participation in the EU. For Vietnam’s shrimp industry, the challenge lies not only in investment costs but also in ensuring the transition does not widen the gap between large enterprises and SMEs, which constitute a significant share of exports.
The early development of technical guidelines, domestic standards and financial mechanisms to support technological innovation will be critical in preventing the industry from being caught off guard by this wave of higher requirements. As competition intensifies, the ability to meet price, quality and production standards simultaneously will determine whether Vietnamese shrimp can strengthen its position in the EU market in the years ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
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