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) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, tuna exports in the first month of 2026 reached over USD 75 million, up 13% compared to the same period in 2025. Notably, exports increased in most key markets such as Japan, the EU, and Russia, while exports to the United States fell by 6%—a contrasting development amid ongoing adjustments in U.S. import tariff policies and new compliance requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which took effect at the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded strong growth, reaching USD 15 million, up 109% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, in the first three months of 2026, export value reached USD 38 million, an increase of 174% year-on-year. This result highlights the sector’s robust expansion and reflects rapid growth across multiple markets.
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