Vietnam’s shrimp export earnings reached US$3.3 billion during the first eight months of 2026, marking a 12% increase from the same period last year, as strong demand in Asian markets helped offset weaker shipments to the United States and European Union.
According to Vietnam Customs data cited by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), shrimp exports were valued at US$478.5 million in August, up 4.2% year-on-year. The cumulative performance, however, is becoming increasingly uneven across products and destination markets.
White-leg shrimp remains the leading product
White-leg shrimp continued to dominate Vietnam’s shrimp export basket, generating more than US$2 billion in export revenue during January–August, an increase of 7.6% year-on-year.
Black tiger shrimp exports were valued at nearly US$318 million, up 7.4%. Meanwhile, other shrimp products recorded particularly strong growth, reaching US$936.6 million, an increase of 25%.
The figures indicate that growth is not coming from a single shrimp category, although white-leg shrimp remains the backbone of Vietnam’s export business.
China emerges as the major growth engine
The most significant shift is visible in Vietnam’s export destinations.
Combined shipments of shrimp to China and Hong Kong reached almost US$1.12 billion during the first eight months, representing a year-on-year increase of 35.9%. The market accounted for 34.1% of Vietnam’s total shrimp export revenue during the period.
China alone generated more than US$1.07 billion, up 38.2% from a year earlier. This made the Chinese market the strongest contributor to Vietnam’s overall shrimp export growth as several traditional destinations remained under pressure.
The trend reflects a broader shift in Vietnam’s seafood trade, with Asian markets increasingly supporting export growth while demand and trading conditions remain more challenging in some Western markets.
US and EU markets remain under pressure
Vietnamese shrimp exports to the United States declined during the first eight months of the year. Export earnings reached US$436.1 million, down 11.7% year-on-year. August shipments alone fell 12.6%.
The European Union also remained a difficult market. Vietnam exported US$355.3 million worth of shrimp to the bloc during January–August, down 3.6% from the same period last year. August exports to the EU dropped 23.5%.
VASEP has pointed to factors including purchasing conditions, competition and trade-related pressures as contributors to the differing performance across markets.
Japan, Australia and Canada record growth
Several other markets continued to expand.
Vietnamese shrimp exports to Japan reached US$388.5 million in the first eight months, representing 6.1% growth.
Exports to Australia increased by 18.2%, while shipments to Canada rose 6.5%.
Meanwhile, shrimp exports to countries belonging to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) reached approximately US$901 million, up 11% year-on-year.
The performance underlines the growing importance of market diversification for Vietnam’s shrimp sector.
Asia gains importance as global shrimp trade evolves
Vietnam’s latest export figures point to an increasingly differentiated global shrimp market.
While Asian demand, particularly from China and Hong Kong, continues to provide strong momentum, exporters are facing more challenging conditions in the US and EU. VASEP also expects competition to remain intense in the final months of 2026, with buyers placing greater emphasis on product quality, specifications, supply consistency and market-specific requirements.
For Vietnam’s shrimp industry, the immediate challenge is therefore not simply increasing export volume, but maintaining competitiveness across a changing mix of markets and increasingly demanding buyers.
Source: Vietnam Customs data, cited by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
