Positive in the US market
The US ranked the second in Vietnamese shrimp imports, accounting for 18.4% of the total value of Vietnam's shrimp exports. In the first quarter of 2020, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US market reached US$115.5 million, up 18.2% over the same period in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic spread widely in the US starting in March 2020, causing the import of goods including shrimp into this market to be delayed. Import demand also declined due to a sharp decline in consumption in the foodservice segment due to the US Government's disease control measures. However, the retail system still operates normally to meet the shortage of goods because American consumers rushed to buy product for stockpile due to fear of COVID-19. While shrimp supply from India, Ecuador, and Thailand is declining due to its national lockdown, US customers turned to buy Vietnamese shrimp.
Enterprises exports shrimp to the US should focus on deep-processing and value-added products such as EZ easily peeled shrimp, etc., changing the packaging method to suit the retail segment.
The largest shrimp supplier to the US - India is also a major competitor of Vietnamese shrimp in the US market. The market is facing many difficulties due to COVID-19 pandemic. A lockdown measure to limit the spread of COVID-19 in India, which began on March 23 and lasted until May 18, had negatively affected the country's production as March was the peak month for stocking in the summer season. Shrimp farmers in India have difficulty in supplying and transporting shrimp seeds while the output is suspended, there is no shrimp caregiver because of the lockdown, the price of raw shrimp has dropped deeply. Due to the lockdown measure, some Indian processing plants are only able to operate 50% of the number of workers. Raw shrimp prices in India as of April dropped sharply, affecting the psychology of farmers who are hesitant to stock; raw material supplies in India may decrease.
Ecuadorian shrimp exports to the US are also expected to fall in March 2020 as the country's shrimp industry is operating at only 50% of its capacity in the context of COVID-19 because of the number of infections and deaths toll is still increasing in the country.
Shrimp production in India is heavily affected as the processing companies mainly located in Guayaquil, Guayas province, which is the center of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador. Some companies are at risk of having to close if the disease situation does not improve. Some processing plants do not buy more raw materials because no workers are working at the factories due to lockdown measures.
Raw shrimp prices increased gradually
After a period of decline due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, from early April 2020, raw shrimp prices in the Mekong Delta are gradually increasing again. The inching up of shrimp prices opened favorable expectations for new shrimp production.
At the end of April, the price of whiteleg shrimp of 100 head/kg ranged from 95,000 to 100,000 VND, up from 15,000 to 20,000 VND/kg compared with 3 months ago. Black tiger shrimp sized 30 head/kg are priced from 200,000 to 230,000 VND, an increase of 30,000 - 40,000 VND/kg.
The duration of the brackish shrimp season in 2020 is still long, favorable signs are also starting to appear clearly. There is still room for shrimp exports because shrimp is an essential food; the control of pandemic in China, South Korea is better that create more hope for farmers and processing plants when the output is somewhat solved. In the EU market, Vietnam has a favorable advantage from the EVFTA Agreement, which is expected to take effect in July 2020, especially for shrimp products with incentive tax rates that India, Thailand or other countries do not have. However, potential risk factors still exist, so processing, exporting and shrimp farmers still need to work closely to overcome difficulties and seize opportunities when the market recovers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the global food market is facing increasing volatility in logistics costs, energy prices, and supply chains. In the seafood sector, alongside ocean-caught products such as tuna, the surimi-based product group—including fish cakes, crab sticks, fish balls, and other imitation seafood products—has also been affected to some extent by these developments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the 2026 brackish-water shrimp farming calendar issued by the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment, the 2026 crop started in early January and is expected to harvest in late June. However, stocking progress has been slower than planned as farmers remain cautious, focusing on pond renovation and production preparations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026, commercial clam prices in Ha Tinh province surged sharply, nearly doubling compared to normal levels and standing about 20–30% higher than the same period last year. The spike has encouraged many aquaculture households to accelerate harvesting and sell large volumes to the market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 379.6 million, up 22% compared to the same period in 2025. The double-digit growth in the very first month of the year signals a relatively positive recovery in orders, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) From the very beginning of 2026, India’s shrimp industry has received a series of favorable trade signals: U.S. reciprocal tariffs have been reduced, while the successful conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU has opened prospects for eliminating nearly all seafood tariffs in the coming years. This shift not only enables Indian shrimp to quickly offset declines in the U.S. market, but also reshapes the global competitive landscape, placing greater pressure on Vietnamese shrimp exporters in terms of price, market share, and strategic positioning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is recording many positive signals, both in terms of raw fish prices and export prospects. Export turnover this year is projected to reach approximately USD 2.3 billion. Amid ongoing volatility in the global market, diversifying export destinations, reducing dependence on major markets, and effectively leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs) are considered key to maintaining sustainable growth and creating new momentum for the pangasius sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With forecasts indicating that weather conditions in 2026 may become more complex—featuring prolonged heatwaves, unseasonal rains, and increased salinity intrusion—the agricultural sector of Can Tho City advises brackish water shrimp farmers to strictly follow the seasonal farming calendar and strengthen pond environmental management to minimize risks and improve production efficiency.
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