(vasep.com.vn) The Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) 2026 is taking place from September 1–3 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, bringing together around 585 delegates from 40 countries, representing approximately 300 companies and organizations across the shrimp supply chain. Representatives from VASEP are attending the event as part of the Vietnamese delegation, strengthening connections with partners across the global shrimp industry.
Now in its fifth year, GSF continues to be one of the world's major specialized forums for the shrimp industry, bringing together farmers, producers and exporters, importers, retailers, feed, genetics and technology companies, researchers, financial institutions and investors.
Speaking at the opening session, Willem van der Pijl, co-founder of the Global Shrimp Forum, emphasized that GSF's core value lies in bringing together people directly involved in the shrimp industry to meet, share experiences and find ways to advance the sector. According to him, each delegate brings a different story to the forum, but all share a common desire to contribute to the industry's development.
Bringing the entire supply chain together
GSF 2026 has attracted around 585 delegates from 40 countries, representing 300 companies and organizations. The event is supported by around 52 sponsors, 25 of which have been involved with GSF for at least four editions.
One notable feature is the diversity of participants. The forum brings together not only producers, but also importers, retailers, investors and experts from outside the shrimp industry. This diversity allows discussions to extend beyond production to cover markets, consumer trends, finance, technology and broader macroeconomic factors.
The organizers have also placed a strong emphasis on networking, considering it an important part of the forum that enables stakeholders across the value chain to engage directly and explore potential cooperation opportunities.
From the global economy to shrimp markets
The GSF 2026 program focuses on a wide range of issues directly affecting the shrimp industry, including macroeconomic developments, geopolitics, exchange rates, trade, logistics, consumer trends, import markets, feed, technology and the drivers of shrimp demand.
In the opening session, Rabobank experts analyzed the impact of geopolitics, energy, inflation and exchange rates on the shrimp supply chain. Subsequent sessions delved into global shrimp trade, consumer markets and the changes taking place in major producing and importing countries.
A session of particular interest to Vietnam is “The New Vietnam Shrimp Story: Resilience, Responsibility and Premium Potential,” which focuses on the resilience, responsibility and potential for Vietnamese shrimp to develop further in higher-value market segments.
More than just a trade conference
According to the organizers, GSF operates as a non-profit forum. Surplus funds generated by the event are channeled into the Global Shrimp Forum Foundation to support research and projects serving the wider shrimp industry.
Activities undertaken so far include studies on carbon footprints, human rights in the supply chain and the utilization of shrimp by-products, as well as projects focused on mangrove restoration. This year, GSF also introduced a study on the protein market and consumer purchasing behavior conducted by Kantar.
After five years, the Global Shrimp Forum is becoming an important meeting point for the global shrimp industry to share data, stay updated on market developments, connect with partners and work together to address common challenges across the value chain.
For Vietnam, participation in GSF provides an opportunity to gain first-hand insights into emerging trends in the global shrimp market, expand connections with international partners, and showcase the story, capabilities and competitive advantages of Vietnamese shrimp to the global shrimp community.
Kim Thu