In 2021, Vietnam's shrimp exports will face many difficulties due to the impact of the 4th Covid-19 epidemic. The Covid-19 epidemic disrupts the global supply chain, increasing costs, especially shipping costs to markets.
The bright spot of Vietnamese shrimp in 2021 is to maintain a fairly good growth in the US market throughout the year. In 2021, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US reached over 1 billion USD, an increase of 20% compared to 2020.
In 2021, Vietnam's shrimp market share in the US market has increased to 13% from 11% in 2020. Retail sales in the US maintained an increase during the pandemic. Demand for restaurants and food services in the US gradually recovered thanks to the economic stimulus packages of the US Government and the strategy of opening up and living with Covid. The growth rate of Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US will continue until the first quarter of 2022.
Along with the US, the EU is also a Vietnamese shrimp import market that recorded positive activity in 2021. In 2021, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU reached more than 613 million USD, up 19% compared to 2020. Shrimp exports to three main markets (Netherlands, Germany, Belgium) increased by 11%, 25% and 19%, respectively.
One year after the EVFTA Agreement between Vietnam and the EU took effect, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU market recorded good growth.
In contrast, Vietnam's shrimp exports to China and Japan in 2021 decreased.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to China in 2021 will reach more than $412 million, down 22%. In 2021, exports to China dropped sharply because the country applied a "zero Covid" policy and strict inspection at the port to prevent the Covid epidemic.
Exports to Japan in 2021 will reach 578 million USD, down 6% compared to 2020. The country's economic growth slows down because Covid reduces the demand for seafood, including shrimp. Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan are still subject to 100% inspection regulations, so shrimp exports to this country in 2021 cannot increase.
For more information on Vietnam's shrimp production and export over the 5-year chain (2016-2021), the impact of Covid on the industry, and trends in world markets, please refer to the Report on shrimp sector in Vietnam, 2016-2021 and forecast to 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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