Imported shrimp to Japan went down due to high inventories volume from the beginning of the year and fluctuations in the Yen. In addition, suppliers such as China and Argentina reduced shrimp exports to Japan due to declining domestic shrimp supplies.
Vietnam was still the largest shrimp supplier to Japan, accounting for 25.6% of the total value of shrimp imports to this country. Thailand ranked second at 18%, followed by Indonesia at 14.9% and India at 14%. The average price of imported shrimp from Vietnam was the highest (US$11.3/kg) in the top of the main suppliers. Therefore, Vietnam must compete on price with other suppliers in this market (Indonesia: US$11/ kg, Thailand: US$11/ kg, India: US$9.2 / kg, Argentina US$9.6/ kg, China US$8 / kg ...)
According to Vietnam Customs, Vietnam shrimp exports to Japan in 2018 reached 639.4 million, down 9.2% compared to the same period in 2017. Japan is currently the second largest shrimp import market of Vietnam, accounting for 18% of total export value of Vietnamese shrimp to international markets.
In 2018, the export of Vietnamese shrimp to Japan only climbed in January and November, the remaining months has negative growth compared to the same period in 2017. The value of shrimp export to Japan decreased partly due to the fluctuation of the Yen and the fierce competition of rival suppliers such as India and Thailand. India had difficulties in exporting to Europe, therefore they increased export to Japan.
Frozen Nobashi white leg shrimp (headless, peeled, tail-on and straightened) with sizes of 26/30, 31/35, 41/50 were priced from US$10.2 to US$11.2/ kg. Fresh white leg shrimp (headless, peeled, tail-on, straightened) with sizes of 2L, 4L, 5L, 7L were priced from US$9.5 to US$11.2/ kg.
Over the years, Vietnam has maintained its No. 1 position in supplying shrimp to Japan thanks to the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP) which took effect in December 1, 2008 as well as the Vietnam - Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (VJEPA) which came into effect from October 1, 2009.These agreements facilitated the exporting of Vietnamese seafood to Japan thanks to declining tariffs. Specifically, soon after the AJCEP Agreement came into force in 2009, shrimp products have enjoyed a 0% tax rate.
Since January 14, 2019, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) has officially come into effect in Viet Nam. Accordingly, Vietnamese shrimp exports to Japan will benefit from this Agreement.
Ready-to-eat shrimp products will grow well in the coming times. The reason being that Japan's ready-to-eat food industry increased due to the increase in the population of single people and a fall in home cooking. In order to promote shrimp export to Japan, enterprises should innovate market access methods along with promoting their brands more strongly, ensuring product quality. It is forecast that Vietnam shrimp exports to Japan in 2019 will achieve 2-digit growth compared to 2018.
(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.
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