Key shrimp export products from Vietnam to the UK include peeled and tail-off white leg shrimp, frozen white leg shrimp (PD), steamed or boiled frozen white leg shrimp, fresh or frozen white leg shrimp, and battered white leg shrimp.
In recent years, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the UK have been unstable, with fluctuations in growth. However, the UK is still considered an important market for Vietnamese shrimp, with various trade benefits in the bilateral trade relations between the two countries. From 2018 to 2024, shrimp exports to the UK peaked in 2020 with over 243 million USD, followed by a downward trend, reaching the lowest point in 2023. In 2024, shrimp exports to the UK showed signs of recovery, reaching over 212 million USD.
By January 2025, shrimp exports to the UK continued to maintain the growth momentum of 2024.
Currently, Vietnam has signed two new-generation Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the United Kingdom: the CPTPP and the UKVFTA. The combination of these agreements provides favorable conditions for businesses in both countries to maximize trade and investment opportunities, including shrimp exports to the UK.
Shrimp accounts for approximately 10% of total seafood consumption in the UK. In the restaurant or foodservice sector, shrimp is a common ingredient, with around 61% of businesses in this sector using shrimp. Additionally, shrimp is popular in Indian and Chinese restaurants in the UK, used in dishes such as wraps, soups, dumplings, and spring rolls.
In the UK market, Vietnam remains the largest shrimp supplier. However, Vietnamese shrimp faces strong price competition from shrimp from India and Ecuador.
With the tariff advantages offered by the two FTAs, Vietnamese shrimp has a competitive edge over other trade partners such as China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Brazil, and others. To benefit from the preferential tariffs under the agreements, Vietnamese seafood products must prove their origin, meet sustainability standards, and adhere to social responsibility requirements.
UK consumers tend to choose products that meet high standards set by UK and EU authorities regarding product quality, origin, sustainability, environmental friendliness, and convenience. Therefore, to increase market share in the UK for seafood in general and shrimp in particular, Vietnamese products must meet the requirements for quality, packaging, appearance, and taste. Companies should also invest in improving production capacity, quality management, and carefully research the market's regulations and standards.
Top 5 Vietnamese Shrimp Exporters to the UK in 2024:
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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