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) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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