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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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