Seafood exports to the EU in 2013 reached US$1.18 billion, of which shrimp sales got US$409 million, pangasius exports reached US$385.4 million. EU is the third largest consumer after the U.S. and Japan. In 2013, shrimp exports to this market recovered significantly later than one year falling due to the economic crisis.
Imported shrimp on the market continued to improve in 2014 thanks to the economic recovery. According to statistics from the World Trade Centre (ITC), shrimp imports into the EU in the first 2 months of 2014 increased 19.8 percent compared to the same period in 2013. Shrimp importing into major markets in the block also increased strongly such as France up 25.5 percent, Spain +45.8 percent, Belgium and the Netherlands increased by 41.5 percent and 48.3 percent respectively. Due to the "sinking" of the economic crisis, Spain was no longer the top shrimp importer in the eurozone. France became the biggest shrimp consumer in EU and this is also the third largest consumer of Vietnam shrimp in this area.
Vietnam is now the third largest shrimp supplier to EU. Vietnam shrimp imports into the EU first 2 months of 2014 also showed a positive growth of 49.1 percent compared with the same period in 2013. Not only Vietnam, India, Ecuador and Indonesia also have great growth in the market in the first 2 months of this year. Thailand shrimp imports into EU decreased 50.2 percent has created more opportunities for other countries.
Tariff on processed shrimp imported from Thailand by EU has increased from 7 percent to 20 percent in 2014 and the tax rate for the Thai raw shrimp imported by the EU will increase from 4.2 percent to 12 percent by 2015.
|
Shrimp imports by EU countries in Jan – Feb 2014 (Source: ITC) US$ thousand |
|||||||||
|
Importers |
Total 2014 |
Total 2013 |
2014/2013 (percent) |
|
Importers |
Total 2014 |
Total 2013 |
2014/2013 (percent) |
|
|
European Union (EU 27) Aggregation |
885,022 |
738,606 |
19.8 |
14 |
Finland |
4,822 |
5,191 |
-7.1 |
|
|
1 |
France |
139,516 |
111,162 |
25.5 |
15 |
Ireland |
3,975 |
2,929 |
35.7 |
|
2 |
Spain |
135,971 |
93,246 |
45.8 |
16 |
Lithuania |
1,819 |
1,218 |
49.3 |
|
3 |
United Kingdom |
125,501 |
140,916 |
-10.9 |
17 |
Luxembourg |
1,247 |
1,629 |
-23.4 |
|
4 |
Belgium |
99,001 |
69,974 |
41.5 |
18 |
Czech Republic |
1,190 |
1,280 |
-7.0 |
|
5 |
Netherlands |
86,162 |
58,110 |
48.3 |
19 |
Cyprus |
1,178 |
1,124 |
4.8 |
|
6 |
Germany |
80,995 |
76,502 |
5.9 |
20 |
Latvia |
1,093 |
1,146 |
-4.6 |
|
7 |
Italy |
68,585 |
52,123 |
31.6 |
21 |
Estonia |
1,075 |
879 |
22.3 |
|
8 |
Denmark |
51,981 |
56,594 |
-8.2 |
22 |
Romania |
970 |
615 |
57.7 |
|
9 |
Sweden |
28,710 |
30,853 |
-6.9 |
23 |
Hungary |
557 |
285 |
95.4 |
|
10 |
Portugal |
23,908 |
15,031 |
59.1 |
24 |
Malta |
508 |
306 |
66.0 |
|
11 |
Greece |
10,527 |
5,839 |
80.3 |
25 |
Slovenia |
308 |
301 |
2.3 |
|
12 |
Austria |
8,361 |
6,093 |
37.2 |
26 |
Bulgaria |
290 |
204 |
42.2 |
|
13 |
Poland |
6,684 |
4,930 |
35.6 |
27 |
Slovakia |
88 |
126 |
-30.2 |
|
Top 15 largest shrimp suppliers to EU, Jan – Feb 2014 (Source: ITC) US$ thousand |
||||
|
No. |
Suppliers |
Jan-Feb 2014 |
Jan-Feb 2013 |
2014/2013 (percent) |
|
The world |
885,022 |
738,606 |
19.8 |
|
|
1 |
India |
126,142 |
72,376 |
74.3 |
|
2 |
Ecuador |
115,155 |
59,930 |
92.1 |
|
3 |
Vietnam |
57,634 |
38,662 |
49.1 |
|
4 |
Bangladesh |
55,426 |
47,973 |
15.5 |
|
5 |
Belgium |
47,735 |
34,477 |
38.5 |
|
6 |
The Netherlands |
44,618 |
45,955 |
-2.9 |
|
7 |
Argentina |
39,460 |
33,740 |
17.0 |
|
8 |
Denmark |
38,468 |
35,600 |
8.1 |
|
9 |
Spain |
28,992 |
24,341 |
19.1 |
|
10 |
Morocco |
27,666 |
23,701 |
16.7 |
|
11 |
Thailand |
26,461 |
53,183 |
-50.2 |
|
12 |
China |
26,185 |
26,558 |
-1.4 |
|
13 |
Canada |
25,346 |
63,015 |
-59.8 |
|
14 |
Indonesia |
25,241 |
11,094 |
127.5 |
|
15 |
Germany |
18,936 |
15,157 |
24.9 |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
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