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) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn