After recording a growth rate of 52% in April, Vietnam shrimp exports to the US decelerated in May, only increasing 2.8% from the same period last year, reaching 99 mil USD. Vietnam's shrimp export to this market in the first 4 months has experienced a growth rate ranging from 25% to 61% compared to the same period last year. In the first 5 months of 2022, Vietnam's shrimp export to the US reached 390 million USD, rising 21% compared to the same period last year.
In the past few months, the US imported shrimp in large quantities from Vietnam, Indonesia, India, and Ecuador, leading to high inventories. This could reduce the buying demand of US importers. Total US shrimp imports in April this year have shown a drop compared to the previous month.
Besides, the rising inflation in the US, China’s new policy on COVID prevention, the continuous conflict in Ukraine, labour shortages and difficulties in the domestic supply chain are all affecting sales and the shrimp-consuming demand in the US.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US in the coming months are expected not to increase as strongly as in the first months of the year. It was only in September that the US demand for shrimp imports recovered strongly again to serve Thanksgiving and other year-end festivals.
Since March, Vietnam's shrimp exports to China have been accelerating, continuously recording a 3-digit growth. Vietnam's shrimp export growth rate to this market from January to May ranged from 126% to 140%. In May, Vietnam's shrimp exports to China reached 88 million USD, up 126% compared to May 2021. Accumulating in the first 5 months of the year, shrimp exports to this market achieved 275 million USD, rising 101% over the same period last year.
Currently, China's strict COVID-19 prevention and control policy has been loosened, creating conditions for China's shrimp imports to increase sharply again. China's shrimp imports in the first four months of this year increased 26% in volume and 51% in value over the same period last year, to 224,000 tons and 1.45 billion USD, respectively.
The two largest shrimp suppliers to China, Ecuador and India, both had shipments rejected by Chinese authorities in April due to traces of the Sar-CoV2 virus on the product packaging. As a result, shrimp imports from Ecuador and India into China dropped by 28% and 30%. China might import more shrimp from other sources, including Vietnam.
The Chinese government is working on a favorable business policy, providing stimulus packages to encourage consumer spending. This is expected to boost shrimp consumption in China. Therefore, Vietnam's shrimp export to China is predicted to accelerate in the next few months.
Vietnamese shrimp exports in June to major markets are not expected to fluctuate much compared to the trend in May and depend heavily on the supply of raw shrimp.
The unfavourable weather and the unusual first rain of the season affected shrimp production and, consequently, led to negative results in the sources of shrimp raw materials. Therefore, in the next few months, it is likely that shrimp materials will be in short supply. Shrimp exports in the second quarter are also forecast to slow down compared to the first quarter.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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