In May 2015, the UK surpassed Germany to become Vietnam's largest shrimp importing market in the EU. In August 2015, the UK accounted for 4.7% of the Vietnam’s total shrimp exports while the proportion to Germany was 3.1%. Through August, the proportion to the UK made up 4% while Germany took 3.9%.
The UK was the only market in the EU to report the positive growth of 24.4% in Jan-Aug 2015.
Statistics of Vietnam Customs showed that in August 2015, Vietnam shrimp exports to the UK worth US$12.7 million, up 7% from the previous month but down 15.4% from the same period of 2014. In Jan-Aug 2015, shrimp sales to the market hit US$72.4 million, up 24.4% year on year, which is the highest growth among Vietnam's top 8 shrimp importing markets. Vietnam shrimp exports to the UK has been increasing since February.
Shrimp imports into the UK have been growing in the past 5 years, except for the drop of 11% in 2012. According to International Trade Center (ITC), in Jan-Jul 2015, shrimp imports into the UK touched US$ 481.5 million, down 1.6% year on year due to price rises led by economic crisis and the depreciation of EUR against USD.
Between January and July 2015, Vietnam was the third largest supplier of shrimp to the UK, just behind Canada and India, representing nearly 11% out of total shrimp imports into the UK.
Among top 10 largest shrimp suppliers to the UK, shrimp imports from Vietnam experienced the highest year-on-year surge of 48.4%, followed by Canada, the largest source to the UK which was 47.4%.
Meanwhile, shrimp imports from India, Thailand, Indonesia dropped by 20%, 38% and 7%, respectively. Shrimp imports from India fell due to lower production and higher price. Imports from Thailand went downward as shrimp export duty to EU got higher. EU's generalized scheme of preferences (GSP) came to an end in 2014 and tax on processed shrimp from Thailand increased to 20%. From January 2015, tax on raw shrimp increased to 12% from the previous 4%.
The market share of warmwater in the UK is increasingly high. The product is often consumed for making sandwiches and salad.
100/200 count farmed vannamei is the safest substitute coldwater shrimp. In mid-June 2015, demand for small-sized warmwater shrimp rose as prices for coldwater shrimp were high at GBP 8/ kg.
With the advantage in producing value added products, Vietnam shrimp exporters have opportunities for raising its market share in the UK because the market is in high demand for ready-to-eat shrimp, cooked shrimp and finger food.
Shrimp exports to EU in general and the UK in particular in the last months of the year are expected to rise, but the reusults can be quite modest.
|
Top 10 shrimp suppliers to the UK (Value: US$ thousand, Source: ITC) |
|||
|
Supply |
Jan-Jul 2014 |
Jan-Jul 2015 |
Variations (%) |
|
The world |
489,507 |
481,520 |
-1.6 |
|
Canada |
63,370 |
93,418 |
47.4 |
|
India |
75,519 |
60,453 |
-19.9 |
|
Vietnam |
35,110 |
52,116 |
48.4 |
|
Bangladesh |
60,580 |
50,077 |
-17.3 |
|
Thailand |
63,447 |
39,293 |
-38.1 |
|
Indonesia |
36,710 |
34,161 |
-6.9 |
|
Denmark |
34,545 |
29,494 |
-14.6 |
|
Iceland |
28,042 |
20,361 |
-27.4 |
|
Honduras |
13,967 |
18,173 |
30.1 |
|
China |
13,576 |
14,339 |
5.6 |
(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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