The top 5 main shrimp import markets of Vietnam, including the US, Japan, EU, China, and South Korea, recorded growth of 15%-91% in the first 4 months of this year.
Shrimp exports remained stable growth in the first 4 months of this year thanks to high market demand and good export prices.
Demand in the markets recovered after the most stressful period of the COVID-19 epidemic, the supply in markets was insufficient, and price inflation increased. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has contributed to disrupting the global supply of seafood including shrimp.
In this context, Vietnamese shrimp exporters have planned production, taking advantage of opportunities from the market.
According to some businesses, the demand, as well as the interest of international customers for Vietnamese shrimp at the present time, has also increased markedly, reflected in international seafood fairs such as the the North American Seafood Show in March 2022 and the Global Seafood Expo e at the end of April 2022.
The US is the single market that imports the most shrimp from Vietnam, accounting for 16%. In the first 4 months of the year, Vietnam shrimp exports to the US reached over US$291 million, up 47% over the same period.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US grew well in the first four months of the year. This market needs food supplies for the summer and the fall.
Shrimp is the most consumed seafood product in the United States because of its ease of preparation at home and popularity in the foodservice sector. The average American shrimp consumption is about 5 pounds per person in 2020.
However, high inflation in the US and large inventories after importing large quantities in the first months of the year, may cause US shrimp imports in April and May to slow down.
In March 2022, the US imported 76,626 tons of shrimp, worth over USD 729 million, up 22% in volume and 39% in value compared to March 2021. The average price of shrimp imports into the US in March 2022 reached $9.52/kg, up from $8.36/kg in March 2021.
China is Vietnam's fourth-largest shrimp import market. In April, shrimp exports to China increased sharply by 128% to USD 81 million. Accumulated in the first 4 months of the year, shrimp export turnover to this market reached more than USD 187 million, up 91% over the same period.
COVID-19 broke out strongly in China and the "zero COVID" policy caused shrimp exports to this market to encounter many bottlenecks. However, because many factories in China were closed, production was stalled, so this market also lacked shrimp supply for domestic consumption and export processing.
Therefore, Vietnam's shrimp exports to this market recorded growth despite the above challenges. It is expected that shrimp exports to China in the following months will continue to grow strongly.
Although the export results were quite good, the unusual weather affected the supply of raw shrimp and input costs such as gasoline and production materials, and shrimp seed price continued to increase, which eroded the profits of the business. In the second quarter of this year, shrimp export turnover is forecasted to continue to increase by about 12% over the same period in 2021, reaching USD 1.2 billion.
Compiled by Minh Trang
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
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