The US is the second-largest importer for Vietnamese shrimp imports. In March 2020, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the US reached US$ 41.3 million, up 11.5% over the same period in 2019. Accumulate in the first 3 months of 2020, Vietnamese shrimp exports to this market reached US$115.5 million, up 18.2% compared to the same period in 2019. This was the best growth among the top 5 main shrimp importers of Vietnam.
The Covid-19 epidemic spread widely in the US starting in March 2020, causing the import of goods including shrimp into this market to be delayed. Import demand also dropped due to a sharp decline in consumption in the Food Service segment as the US Government imposed disease control measures. However, the demand for shrimp in the retail segment has increased to meet the essential needs of consumer. Enterprises exports to this market should focus on deep-processing, value-added products such as EZ easy-to-peel shrimps ... to conform to the demand of this segment.
India - the largest shrimp supplier to the US, which is also a major competitor of Vietnamese shrimp in the US market, which is facing many difficulties due to Covid-19 epidemic. A blockade to curb the outbreak of Covid in India, which began on March 23 and will last until May 3, had negatively affected the country's production as March was the peak month for stocking of the summer season. Shrimp farmers in India have difficulty in supplying and transporting shrimp seeds while the output is leveled off, there is no shrimp caregiver because of the blockade, the price of raw shrimp has dropped deeply. Due to the shutdown, some Indian processing plants are only able to operate 50% of the number of workers. Therefore, India shrimp exports to the US in March 2020 devastated.
Accounting for 21% of total shrimp export value of Vietnam, Japan rose to be the largest shrimp importer of Vietnam in the first quarter of 2020 thanks to the strong growth of shrimp imports from Vietnam in February 2020 with a growth rate of 63% compared to the same period in 2019. In the first quarter of 2020, Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan reached nearly 132 million USD, up 8.4% compared to the first quarter of 2019.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU, South Korea and China in March 2020 declined by 16%, 6.3% and 6.4% respectively, compared to March 2019 due to the impact of the Covid-19.epidemic.
The situation of the pandemic is not yet known as to how long it will last. However, shrimp is in the essential food group at a reasonable price, so the demand will be improved in the domestic and international market in the time to come.
The anti-epidemic situation of Covid-19 in China and South Korea is getting better and there will be more hope for farmers and processing plants. When major producing countries such as India and Ecuador are facing difficulties in production due to pandemics and weather, Vietnam needs to ensure the supply of raw materials and production to catch up when the epidemic is under control. The main shrimp importers are implementing stimulus packages ... the demand for shrimp will increase and it is expected that the price will increase.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn