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) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
(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.
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