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) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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