Japan still maintains the second largest shrimp importer of Vietnam in the first half of this year. Thanks to the advantages from the Trade Agreements between Vietnam and Japan, Vietnamese shrimp exports to Japan in the first 7 months of this year did not fall sharply like other major markets.
In the structure of shrimp products exported from Vietnam to Japan, whiteleg shrimp accounted for the highest rate of 58.1%, black tiger shrimp made up for 22.4% and marine shrimp accounted for 19.5%. Among white shrimp products exported to Japan, live /fresh/frozen whiteleg shrimp proportion are higher than processed whiteleg shrimp. In the first 7 months of this year, Vietnamese live/fresh/ frozen whiteleg shrimp exports to Japan fell by more than 10% while exports of processed whiteleg shrimp rose slightly by 2% over the same period in 2018.
Some Vietnamese shrimp products that are popular in Japan include Nobashi, sushi, Tempura breaded shrimp; Frozen FD whiteleg shrimp, frozen peeled whiteleg shrimp (head off, tail on)...
According to ITC, in the first half of this year, Japnanese shrimp imports reached more than US $ 1 billion, down 6.6% over the same period in 2018. Vietnam was still the largest shrimp supplier for Japan, accounting for 26% of the total value. Followed by Thailand, Indonesia and India, accounting for 19%, 17% and 10% respectively. In the first half of 2019, Japanese shrimp imports from the top 5 major suppliers all decreased compared to the same period in 2018.
Frozen raw shrimp (HS code 030617) was the highest proportion of total shrimp structure imported into Japan, accounting for over 60%. In terms of import tax applied for shrimp, Vietnam and other major suppliers for Japan (Indonesia, India, Thailand) are enjoyed to the tax rate of 0%. In terms of price, Vietnamese shrimp has the highest prices among other suppliers with over US$11/kg in the first half of this year. The price of Indonesian shrimp exported to Japan was US$11/kg, the price of Thai and India shrimp was US$9.5/kg and US$9/kg respectively.
The ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Agreement (AJCEP) came into force on December 1, 2008 and the Vietnam-Japan Bilateral Free Trade Agreement (VJEPA) came into force on October 1, 2009 has helped to create favorable conditions in terms of preferential tariff for Vietnamese seafood exports to Japan.
In addition to Vietnam - Japan and ASEAN - Japan FTAs, the CPTPP Agreement, which came into effect in January 2019, shall also help Vietnamese shrimp to boost their advantages in this market. According to Japanese commitments in CPTPP, most of Vietnamese seafood products including frozen shrimp (HS code 030617) and processed shrimp (HS 160521) are enjoyed to 0% tax rate right after the agreement took effect.
The development of Japanese ready-to-eat food business was good, so processed shrimp products with high usability will grow well in the Japanese market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
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