In the early months of 2025, lobster consumption in China continued to grow strongly. Meanwhile, the demand for white-leg shrimp and black tiger shrimp has not seen significant recovery.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first two months of the year, Vietnam’s shrimp exports recorded positive signs with strong growth in several key markets.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first two months of this year reached 605 million USD, an increase of 46% compared to the same period in 2024. In terms of product structure, white-leg shrimp continued to account for the largest share with an export value of 344 million USD, an increase of 15%, while black tiger shrimp reached an export value of 45 million USD, a decrease of 5%. Additionally, the other shrimp category reached an export value of 216 million USD, a sudden increase of 222%.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first two months of this year reached 605 million USD.
China and Hong Kong (China) are the largest import markets for Vietnamese shrimp, with a value of 204 million USD, accounting for 34% of the total shrimp export value and increasing sharply by 150% compared to the same period last year. This impressive growth is mainly due to the significant increase in lobster exports to these markets.
Lobster consumption in China continues to grow strongly, while the demand for white-leg shrimp and black tiger shrimp has not yet seen significant recovery. This reflects consumer trends from the end of 2024 and shows the great potential of this product line in the near future.
Although seafood imports have been adjusted, shrimp still account for 24% of the total volume and contribute 41% to the value of China’s seafood imports. This is also the most popular seafood item on e-commerce platforms in this country, especially in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where the demand for shrimp is always high.
The VASEP believes that Vietnamese shrimp have dominated the Chinese market because domestic supply in that country has sharply decreased due to adverse weather.
The domestic supply shortage has also caused shrimp prices in China to increase sharply since the beginning of the year. The high domestic prices create a significant opportunity for imported shrimp.
On the other hand, in the first two months of this year, shrimp exports to the US reached 77 million USD, an increase of 7%. However, the US is the market with the lowest growth in shrimp exports among Vietnam’s main shrimp import markets.
Explaining this, the VASEP said that at the beginning of 2025, when President Donald Trump’s administration comes into operation, American consumers are concerned that the unclear import tariffs could increase the prices of seafood products, including shrimp.
The VASEP also said that by early 2025, shrimp exports showed good signs of recovery, especially in the Chinese and Hong Kong (China) markets. Shrimp consumption in the US remains stable, while the European market increasingly favors clean, organic, and processed shrimp products.
This year, Vietnam aims to achieve shrimp export turnover of 4-4.3 billion USD. The VASEP predicts that shrimp exports will grow thanks to adjustments in production strategies and the expansion of potential export markets such as Australia, the Middle East, the UK, and South Korea.
To maintain growth momentum, the VASEP recommends that businesses focus on ready-to-eat products, optimize production costs, and meet the strict standards of import markets.