In terms of product structure, the "other shrimp" category (including lobster, mantis shrimp, etc.) dominated the share and recorded triple-digit growth, particularly for live, fresh and frozen products. This clearly reflects strong consumer demand for premium products such as live lobster. Exports of black tiger shrimp to China also saw double-digit growth, while whiteleg shrimp recorded a decline. However, processed whiteleg shrimp products experienced growth, indicating a gradual shift in consumer preferences toward convenient, ready-to-eat products.
Among enterprises exporting shrimp to China, Phat Loi Trading - Service - Production Co., Ltd. continues to lead, accounting for 19% of the total export value to China, maintaining its No.1 position since 2024.
Recovery in China's frozen warm-water shrimp imports
According to Chinese Customs data, China imported 519,000 tons of frozen warm-water shrimp in the first seven months of 2025, down 2% compared to the same period in 2024. However, the import value rose by 7% to $2.73 billion, driven by a 9% increase in the average price to $5.25/kg. In July alone, import volume surged to over 90,000 tons - the highest since early 2024 - signaling a partial recovery in demand after a sluggish period.
Ecuador continues to dominate, supplying 75% of China’s shrimp imports, equivalent to nearly 389,000 tons in the first seven months. In contrast, India saw a 7% decline, dropping to 76,000 tons, while smaller suppliers like Myanmar, Argentina and Thailand recorded robust growth.
However, the sharp increase in imports in July led to high inventory levels, coupled with weakened demand in the food service sector, causing shrimp import prices in China to continuously decline in August. This indicates a short-term risk of market saturation, particularly in the mainstream shrimp segment.
Ecuador dominates, India loses ground – Vietnam targets niche markets
In the Chinese market, Ecuador currently holds a significant advantage due to its abundant supply, competitive pricing, and products tailored to consumer preferences, particularly in the frozen head-on shrimp segment. India, the second-largest supplier, is gradually losing market share due to challenges in quality control and cost management, while also facing supply fragmentation as it serves multiple markets simultaneously.
In this context, Vietnamese shrimp has emerged as a complementary option in the premium segment. While Ecuador and India dominate in price and volume, Vietnam is favored for high-quality products such as large-sized black tiger shrimp, live lobster and value-added processed shrimp. This advantage allows Vietnamese shrimp to avoid direct competition with Ecuador in the mainstream segment and opens opportunities to tap into China’s increasingly pronounced demand for premium seafood.
Future directions for Vietnamese enterprises
In the short term, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China are expected to continue growing, especially during major holidays such as Mid-Autumn Festival, New Year and Lunar New Year, when demand for gifts and seafood consumption surges. Live lobster, large-sized black tiger shrimp and deeply processed whiteleg shrimp will remain the main drivers.
In the medium term, the growing domestic aquaculture production in China will put pressure on imports, while competition from Ecuador and India remains intense. In this context, Vietnamese enterprises need to stay committed to a strategy focused on quality, product diversification and targeting the premium segment. Additionally, strict compliance with regulations on quarantine, traceability and packaging is crucial to ensuring a sustainable presence in this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Hai Phong's aquaculture sector is accelerating the adoption of high technologies in aquaculture to adapt to climate change, with red tilapia and tilapia identified as the key cultured species for priority development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion in June 2026, up 21.0% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2026 totaled nearly US$5.8 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared with the same period last year. Exports to China and Hong Kong continued to accelerate, while shipments to the United States rebounded strongly in June. In contrast, exports to the EU, Japan, and the Middle East remained sluggish or recorded slight declines.
(vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, driven not only by growing market opportunities but also by its ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety, and traceability. In practice, tilapia farming in Vietnam is not a spontaneous or loosely regulated activity; rather, it operates under a comprehensive legal and technical framework covering the entire value chain—from hatcheries and farming to processing and exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 16, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province announced that the locality has established a farming area code for nearly 30,400 hectares of mud crab aquaculture and granted export facility codes to five enterprises eligible to export mud crab officially to markets such as China, Cambodia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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