German market is "sensitive" to the price. Thus, demand for shrimp imports into the market plunged mainly due to EU’s economic recession and EUR’s sharp devaluation against USD.
This is also a part of reason why the proportion of whiteleg shrimp out of Vietnam’s total shrimp exports to Germany dominated black tiger shrimp.
In 2011, Vietnam’s whiteleg shrimp exports to Germany hit US$40.4 million, representing the proportion of 35.7% while black tiger shrimp sales were US$63.7 million, taking 56.3%. In 2012, the proportion of whiteleg shrimp increased to 46.6% while that of black tiger shrimp reduced to 45.5%. In 2013, whiteleg shrimp accounted for 53.4% while black tiger shrimp occupied 40%.
In 2014, whiteleg shrimp sales to Germany made up 58% while black tiger shrimp sales took 34.7%. In Jan-Sep 2015, the proportion of whiteleg shrimp was 73.5% while that of black tiger shrimp was 19.9%. This trend showed that whiteleg shrimp is increasingly favoured in Germany.
Between 2011-2014, Germany held the top position in EU bloc in terms of importing shrimp from Vietnam. In 2014, Vietnam shrimp exports to the market made up 20.5% of Vietnam’s total shrimp exports to EU.
The statistics from the International Trade Center (ITC) stated that in 2014, Vietnam was the largest shrimp supplier to German market, accounting for 18.4% of total shrimp imports into Germany. Frozen raw shrimp is the main product imported into Germany, accounting for 56.4% of total shrimp imports into Germany in the first 6 months of this year. In which Vietnam took the lead in supplying the product to Germany. In Jan-Jun 2015, import value of raw frozen shrimp from Vietnam to Germany reached US$27.6 million, representing 19.6% of total imports of the product into Germany; 1.7 times higher than import value from India, 10 times higher than from Indonesia and 12.4 times higher from Thailand.
In Jan-Jun 2015, total shrimp imports into Germany reached US$252.8 million, down 18.2% year on year. In the period, shrimp imports from Vietnam into the market still increased by 12.5% while imports from India downed 8.1%, imports from Thailand downed 64.7% and from Indonesia downed 19.8%.
In 2014, the average seafood consumption per capita in Germany was 14 kg/year, up 0.2% compared to 2013. It is expected that the consumption will be stable in 2015. In 2015, seafood companies in Germany plan to boost promotions to strengthen seafood consumption and ensure that seafood is put into daily spending list of German consumers.
German economy remains a positive outlook with expected growth of 1.8% this year. The economic growth in 2016 is forecast to reach 2.1% and 2.3% in 2017. Once the economy recovered, EUR increased, demand for seafood imports including shrimp into Germany will inch up. This is a good sign for Vietnam shrimp exporters to the market in the coming time.
|
Top largest suppliers to Germany, Jan-Jun 2015 (Source: ITC) |
|||
|
Supply |
Jan-Jun 2014 |
Jan-Jun 2015 |
Variations (%) |
|
The world |
309,072 |
252,831 |
-18.2 |
|
The Netherlands |
67,228 |
69,747 |
3.7 |
|
Vietnam |
42,814 |
48,159 |
12.5 |
|
Bangladesh |
21,356 |
17,930 |
-16.0 |
|
Denmark |
25,391 |
14,167 |
-44.2 |
|
Honduras |
3,781 |
4,809 |
27.2 |
|
India |
18,322 |
16,830 |
-8.1 |
|
Thailand |
30,780 |
10,854 |
-64.7 |
|
The UK |
26,847 |
16,519 |
-38.5 |
|
France |
12,127 |
11,502 |
-5.2 |
|
Belgium |
26,666 |
15,384 |
-42.3 |
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
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