EU Shrimp Imports Maintain Growth in 2025
According to data from Shrimp Insight, during the first ten months of 2025, the EU imported approximately 374,500 tonnes of frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS03061792) and value-added processed shrimp (HS160521, 160529), up 18% year-on-year; import value surged by 21% to €2.35 billion. This growth reflects relatively resilient consumer demand, particularly in Southern Europe and North-Western Europe, which collectively account for over 95% of the bloc’s total shrimp imports.
Within this landscape, Ecuador continued to solidify its position as the leading supplier, exporting over 203,700 tonnes, up a sharp 37%, far outpacing other sources. India saw robust growth, rising to approximately 51,500 tonnes (up 33%), while Vietnam ranked third with nearly 46,000 tonnes (up 12%).
Although the market share gap between Vietnam and India remains relatively narrow, the distance from Ecuador’s dominant position continues to expand.
Animal welfare emerging as a mandatory technical requirement
Against this backdrop, new animal welfare standards are emerging as a critical non-tariff barrier. From 2026, many major retail chains in the EU and the UK will require warm-water shrimp to be fully stunned - typically using electrical methods - prior to ice-slurry chilling, replacing traditional thermal shock methods. Retailers such as Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have already incorporated this into their sourcing policies, directly linking compliance to supplier eligibility.
Unlike conventional non-tariff barriers, this requirement cannot be addressed through documentation or certification. Exporters are compelled to reinvest in harvesting and primary processing technologies, redesign operational workflows and tighten controls over live shrimp logistics. The capital expenditure required for electrical stunning lines is substantial, posing a challenge as profit margins across the shrimp sector continue to tighten.
Intensifying competition in the EU market
From a competitive perspective, animal welfare standards may indirectly favor countries accustomed to large-scale, low-cost production models with high certification rates. Ecuador, which holds a commanding market share in the EU, possesses a significantly higher proportion of ASC-certified shrimp compared to Vietnam and benefits from vertically integrated production chains that facilitate the adoption of new technologies. India, leveraging its scale and cost advantages, is also rapidly expanding its presence as other markets, notably the U.S, become increasingly unpredictable.
Meanwhile, according to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached over $562 million by December 15, 2025, up 22% year-on-year, underscoring the EU’s continued importance and remaining growth potential. However, failing to adapt to these emerging standards risks rendering current growth short-lived.
Adapting to new standards to sustain position in the EU
Animal welfare is no longer matter of corporate image or pure social responsibility; it is becoming a prerequisite for market participation in the EU. For Vietnam’s shrimp industry, the challenge lies not only in investment costs but also in ensuring the transition does not widen the gap between large enterprises and SMEs, which constitute a significant share of exports.
The early development of technical guidelines, domestic standards and financial mechanisms to support technological innovation will be critical in preventing the industry from being caught off guard by this wave of higher requirements. As competition intensifies, the ability to meet price, quality and production standards simultaneously will determine whether Vietnamese shrimp can strengthen its position in the EU market in the years ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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