China emerges as Vietnam’s top shrimp importer

China emerges as Vietnam’s top shrimp importer

China has overtaken the United States to become the largest importer of Vietnamese shrimp, with import value soaring by 80 per cent in the first half of 2025.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, Vietnam’s shrimp exports have shown a strong recovery after a period of stagnation, driven mainly by whiteleg shrimp, which accounts for over 60 per cent of total volume, followed by black tiger shrimp and other varieties.

The other shrimp segment witnessed the highest growth at 124 per cent, reflecting increasing demand in niche and premium markets.

Greater China, including Hong Kong, imported nearly $595 million worth of Vietnamese shrimp during the six-month period, driven by domestic supply shortages and rising seasonal demand, particularly for lobster and high-end seafood products.

Traditional markets such as Japan, South Korea, and the EU continued to post stable growth. Japan remains the third-largest buyer thanks to high consumption of processed products. Meanwhile, shipments to the EU have also improved, benefitting from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, a competitive edge over rivals like Indonesia and Thailand that lack similar trade preferences.

By contrast, the US market is showing signs of cooling. Although total export value in the first six months rose 13 per cent to $341 million, June shipments fell 37 per cent on-year.

The slowdown has been attributed to US trade policies under President Donald Trump, who in April implemented a 10 per cent retaliatory tariff on various imports. In July, the tariff on shrimp rose to 20 per cent, effective from August 1. Vietnamese exporters are also facing risks of anti-dumping duties exceeding 35 per cent, along with potential countervailing duties expected by the end of the year.

VIR