Except for January, the export value decreased, in the remaining months since the beginning of the year until now, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the UK have achieved positive growth. In June this year, shrimp exports to the UK achieved the highest growth rate of 54% compared to June in 2019.
In 2019, when still in the EU, the UK was the largest shrimp importer of Vietnam in the EU, accounting for 29% of the total value of Vietnamese shrimp exports to the EU and accounting for 6% of the total shrimp export value of Vietnam. After the Brexit event, from February 2020 onwards, the UK became the single market and ranked the 6th in Vietnamese shrimp imports, accounting for 6.5% of the total shrimp export value of Vietnam.
In the past 5 years, the UK was a remarkable market for many Vietnamese enterprises. From 2015 to 2019, the UK was always in the 1st and 2nd position in terms of Vietnamese shrimp imports in the EU. In the period from 2014 to 2019, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the UK grew continuously, from nearly US$ 130 million in 2015 to US$ 202.5 million in 2019, up 56%.
The UK mainly imports from Vietnam shrimp products such as frozen PD fresh whiteleg shrimp, frozen fresh whiteleg shrimp, frozen fresh whiteleg shrimp skewers, frozen PDTO whiteleg shrimp, frozen fresh whiteleg shrimp head on (HLSO), frozen fresh whiteleg shrimp (nobashi), frozen boiled whiteleg shrimp, PTO boiled whiteleg shrimp with soy sauce, frozen fried breaded whiteleg shrimp, frozen boiled whiteleg shrimp…
The UK tends to boost imports of warm-water shrimp from Vietnam, India ... to substitute cold-water shrimp (imported from Greenland and Eastern Canada) since reducing exploitation quota and increasing the price.
In the UK retail segment, warm-water shrimp is the most popular, accounting for 61% of total shrimp sales (34% of which is sold in the frozen sector). Cold-water shrimp accounts for 37% (of which 39% is sold in the frozen sector).
Shrimp of all kinds in the UK is sold through the fast-service restaurant channel (accounting for 45% of total sales); 26% is sold in service restaurants; 13% is sold in pubs, 11% is served in tourism and entertainment services and 5% is served for offices and universities.
The UK increasingly prefer marinated shrimp (steamed or frozen), sushi shrimp. Busy people often like steamed shrimp, peeled, processed in the form of added value.
Over the years, Vietnam has remained the largest shrimp supplier to the UK, accounting for 24% of the UK's total shrimp imports, followed by India and Thailand.
Vietnam shrimp exports to the UK from now until the end of the year still enjoy the same tax incentives as exporting to other markets in the EU. Processed shrimp products originating from Vietnam in the UK market are having a higher advantage in selling price and quality than those of India and Bangladesh.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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