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) 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.
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