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) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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