According to Vietnam Customs, shrimp exports to the EU reached USD 434 million in the first nine months of 2025, up 21% year-on-year, with September alone jumping 48%. White-leg shrimp accounted for 80% of the value, while value-added processed shrimp made up over 50%, highlighting Vietnam’s deep-processing advantage.
The EU remains a major shrimp importer, taking in 289,142 tons worth EUR 1.8 billion in the first eight months, up 19-24% year-on-year. Growth slowed from August, reflecting buyers’ cautious, stabilizing approach. Frozen raw shrimp still dominates, but processed shrimp is growing rapidly, creating opportunities for exporters with strong processing capabilities like Vietnam.
In volume terms, Vietnam shipped 35,004 tons of shrimp to the EU in the first eight months, ranking third after Ecuador (160,139 tons) and India (36,880 tons). Ecuador and India’s gains are driven by low costs, high production, and aggressive processing, while Vietnam shows steady growth focused on high-value processed shrimp, a key competitive edge.
The EVFTA enables Vietnamese shrimp to enter the EU duty-free, supported by European-standard plants and certifications like ASC, BAP, and GlobalGAP, laying the foundation for expanding supply chains. Meanwhile, EU consumers’ preference for sustainable, traceable products further favors Vietnam.
Challenges remain, including adapting to new environmental and supply chain regulations such as CSDDD and SCDDA, as well as potential impacts from IUU “yellow card” warnings and competitors’ new FTAs.
For Vietnamese exporters, the path forward is clear: develop premium processed shrimp, invest in digital traceability systems, strengthen partnerships with EU buyers, and expand private-label offerings. Forecasts for Q4 2025 and 2026 remain positive, though growth may slow amid ample global supply and lower export prices.
VFM
