Shrimp exports fell sharply in the first two months of this year due to sluggish market demand, high inflation, high inventories in the US, tight consumption in the EU due to economic difficulties. In addition, the strong decline can be explained as this time last year, shrimp exports increased too strongly (with $ 558 million, up 48% over the same period in 2021).
In February 2023, shrimp exports to main markets decreased from 12% to 35%, some markets showed signs of growth such as China, Australia and France, increased from 4-7%. Among the top 5 main import markets, shrimp exports to the US and EU decreased dramatically; shrimp exports to Japan and Korea also decreased but slightly; exports to China recovered, up 4%.
In the first 2 months of the year, shrimp exports to the US, EU and Japan increased from 51-58 million USD. Exports to Korea reached $46 million, exports to China&HK reached $34 million. Exports to these markets in the first 2 months of this year decreased by 16%-51% over the same period.
Competition between Vietnamese shrimp with Ecuador and India this year is also more intense when Ecuador's shrimp output in 2023 is expected to reach 1.5 million tons
In terms of shrimp production output, shrimp farming is in a transitional phase towards improving quality, renovating and repairing ponds and lakes, focusing on the quality of seed to limit diseases. Generally, by Feb 2023, whiteleg shrimp production reached 60.2 thousand tons, up 0.5%, black tiger shrimp production reached 31.3 thousand tons, up 0.3%.
In the last months of 2022 and into the beginning of this year, global inflation increased, world economic instability led to a decline in demand. Competition between Vietnamese shrimp with Ecuador and India this year is also more intense when Ecuador's shrimp output in 2023 is expected to reach 1.5 million tons. The price of imported shrimp in the world market has decreased gradually since the end of 2022 and is forecast to continue to decrease further as supply in 2023 is expected to increase.
In the difficult context, businesses must reduce costs, focus on added value products, and improve product quality. Enterprises can redirect exports to specific products such as shrimp-forest, shrimp-rice or black tiger shrimp, taking advantage of the Chinese market. Enterprises need to focus on changing product structure to actively meet the needs of each market segment.
Regardless of challenges, dynamic businesses that adapt early to new conditions will continue to dominate the market.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports situation will be brighter in the coming months when inventories in the US decrease and the world economic situation changes positively. In particular, the North American Seafood Fair taking place on March 12, 2023 is also expected to help increase shrimp export sales to the US market and other markets.
Compied by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Rabobank, global tilapia production is forecast to exceed 7 million tons in 2025, driven by a strong recovery in major producing countries including China, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Among them, Vietnam is emerging as a potential tilapia supplier in the global supply chain, capitalizing on market fluctuations to expand production and exports.
By the end of Q3/2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry recorded a clear recovery as a series of leading companies reported strong profits — some even achieving the highest results in their history. After several quarters struggling with high costs and weakened demand, the latest business results indicate a robust comeback across the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On November 12 in Ho Chi Minh City, the Embassy of the Netherlands, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, organized the Vietnam–Netherlands Business Forum under the theme “Shaping the future of sustainable aquaculture in the Mekong Delta.”
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