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) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Hai Phong's aquaculture sector is accelerating the adoption of high technologies in aquaculture to adapt to climate change, with red tilapia and tilapia identified as the key cultured species for priority development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion in June 2026, up 21.0% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2026 totaled nearly US$5.8 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared with the same period last year. Exports to China and Hong Kong continued to accelerate, while shipments to the United States rebounded strongly in June. In contrast, exports to the EU, Japan, and the Middle East remained sluggish or recorded slight declines.
(vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, driven not only by growing market opportunities but also by its ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety, and traceability. In practice, tilapia farming in Vietnam is not a spontaneous or loosely regulated activity; rather, it operates under a comprehensive legal and technical framework covering the entire value chain—from hatcheries and farming to processing and exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 16, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province announced that the locality has established a farming area code for nearly 30,400 hectares of mud crab aquaculture and granted export facility codes to five enterprises eligible to export mud crab officially to markets such as China, Cambodia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The United States remains one of the largest export markets for Vietnamese pangasius. In the first four months of 2026, pangasius exports to the US reached USD 106 million, up 4% compared to the same period in 2025. In April 2026 alone, export value totaled USD 38 million, marking a 20% year-on-year increase and the first positive growth recorded after an extended period of decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While Vietnam’s shrimp exports to many major markets continued to post positive growth in the first months of 2026, exports to the United States declined, highlighting growing competitive pressures and trade barriers facing the Vietnamese shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Egypt is emerging as one of the most promising destinations for Vietnamese tuna exports in 2026. During the first four months of the year, export turnover to this market exceeded USD 7.3 million, marking a sharp increase compared to the same period over the previous two years. As Egypt’s tuna imports continue to recover and demand for canned tuna remains strong, the market is becoming increasingly attractive for Vietnamese tuna processors and exporters.
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