There are still concerns about the new variant of Covid-19 and its effects but overall restrictions have been eased. Airlines resume normal operations, travel recovers, foodservice sector recuperates. This is considered one of the supporting factors for the growth momentum of Vietnam's shrimp exports in the first quarter of this year.
Reports from provinces with large shrimp farming areas such as Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, and Kien Giang showed positive progress and success in the stocking. In the first 3 months of this year, Soc Trang is the province with the largest shrimp export volume, reaching over 231 million USD, accounting for 24.4% of the total shrimp export value of the country during this period. With the priority of developing effective production models, Soc Trang has been leading the country in shrimp export turnover for 2 consecutive years, with a value of more than 1 billion USD. The next largest shrimp exporting provinces are Ca Mau (accounting for 24%), Bac Lieu (accounting for 10.8%), Hau Giang (accounting for 8.2%), and Ho Chi Minh City (accounting for 6.3%).
In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam's shrimp exports to major markets recorded double-digit growth. The US continues to be the single largest importer of Vietnam's shrimp with a proportion of 20.4%. Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US accumulated in the first 3 months of this year reached nearly 195 million USD, up 45% over the same period.
The number of Covid cases in the US remains low and the vaccination rate is high. People's lives are adapted to Covid - 19. According to experts, shrimp imports from the US in 2022 will continue growths.
Shrimp sales in the US foodservice industry skyrocketed in 2021, although they have not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. The demand for large-sized shrimps (26-30 pcs/kg) and for easy-to-process shrimps tends to increase markedly. Nearly 137,000 tons of shrimp were consumed through foodservice channels in 2021, an increase of 25,000 tons compared to 2020. With the recovery of demand for the HORECA chain and the strength of processed shrimp, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the US will continue tobe positive in 2022.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU in the first quarter of this year reached more than US$159 million, up 66% over the same period last year. Exports to three main single markets in the bloc, namely the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium, increased by 77%, 59%, and 82%, respectively.
The demand for shrimp in Europe usually increases in late summer and early autumn, so importers and distributors in this market are preparing orders from this time.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to China in the first three months of this year reached over $106 million, up 70% over the same period. This is a good signal for shrimp exports to this market after a quiet 2021. The demand for shrimp imports from this market this year will be more stable when China this year advocates increasing the amount of imported seafood to 66 million tons to reduce demand for pork. However, this country is still pursuing the 'Zero Covid' policy, so it will more or less affect Vietnam's shrimp exports to this market in the near future.
It is forecasted that shrimp exports in the second quarter of this year will continue to have a high growth momentum. If the situation is favorable, shrimp export turnover in the whole year of 2022 can achieve a growth rate of 10%. Vietnam's shrimp exports this year will have a steady growth momentum thanks to the demand from still good markets and incentives from Trade Agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, UKVFTA, RCEP... However, situations in some markets such as China maintaining the "Zero Covid" policy, sea freight not showing any signs of "cooling down", and instability from the Russia-Ukraine conflict... are still challenges that shrimp companies must face in the next quarter.
Compiled by Minh Trang
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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