China is especially fond of Vietnamese lobster.

In the first four months of this year, shrimp exports to the Chinese market have doubled compared to the same period last year. This impressive growth is due to China's special love for Vietnamese lobster and the government's restructuring of food policies.

Over 1.3 billion USD of shrimp exports

Shrimp export Vietnam In the first 4 months of this year, shrimp exports recorded impressive growth, reaching more than 1.3 billion USD, up 34% over the same period in 2024, according to data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). Of which, China has emerged as the largest market, with an export turnover of 389 million USD, double that of the same period last year, accounting for nearly 30% of our country's total shrimp export turnover.

Notably, the impressive growth in the Chinese market comes mainly from the boom in commodities. lobster - a high-end product, increasingly popular in the high-end consumer and gift segment.

According to VASEP, the event China The publication of the Food and Nutrition Development Guidelines 2025-2030 was a major milestone. It emphasized the role of protein in the diet and promoted fish and seafood consumption through programs such as school meals. This has driven demand for seafood in China, especially high-value products such as lobster and high-quality shrimp.

China is currently the world's largest shrimp importer, with more than 1.1 million tons in 2023 and over 1 million tons in 2024.

Shrimp exports to China increased sharply. Photo: VNA.

Ms. Kim Thu - shrimp market expert of VASEP - commented: "Currently, imported shrimp from Vietnam is a popular seafood product on online shopping platforms in China. People in rich cities like Beijing and Shanghai tend to consume more imported shrimp than other regions."

VASEP believes that Vietnamese shrimp has dominated the Chinese market because domestic supply in this "billion-people" country has decreased sharply due to the impact of adverse weather.

The scarcity of domestic supply has also caused shrimp prices in China to skyrocket since the beginning of the year. In Guangdong, the price of 60-count shrimp per kilogram increased from 31 yuan (CNY) per kilogram in January to 40 yuan per kilogram in the first 10 weeks of the year. In Jiangsu, shrimp prices doubled from 27 yuan per kilogram to 56 yuan per kilogram. The high domestic prices have created a great opportunity for imported shrimp to compete.

Markets are slowly recovering

Shrimp exports to the US in the first four months of the year reached 193 million USD, up 15%, with April alone increasing by 25%. The increase mainly came from businesses taking advantage of the temporary suspension of anti-subsidy taxes from the US.

The European Union (EU) is a market that brings in 152 million USD, up 28%, accounting for 11.7% of total export turnover. Notably, the stability of domestic consumption demand is less affected by prices or global economic fluctuations.

The Barcelona Seafood Fair in May, with the participation of 28 Vietnamese enterprises, also contributed to promoting trade. In the context of the uncertain US market, the EU has become an important support, especially when Vietnam can take advantage of incentives from the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Shrimp exports to Japan reached 169 million USD, up 20%. Although Japan is a traditional market, the level of competition in Japan is increasingly fierce, forcing Vietnamese enterprises to renew their approach strategies. Possible directions include promoting deeply processed products, investing in “Japanese standard” product lines and improving brand image.

According to VASEP, although shrimp exports in the first four months of the year showed signs of growth, the long-term outlook still faces many risks. Restructuring market strategies, diversifying products, increasing added value, and effectively utilizing free trade agreements are vital conditions for survival.

This year, Vietnam aims to achieve shrimp export turnover of 4-4.3 billion USD. VASEP believes that shrimp exports will grow thanks to adjustments in production strategies and expansion of potential export markets such as Australia, the Middle East, the UK, South Korea, etc.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/trung-quoc-dac-biet-yeu-thich-tom-hum-viet-nam-3360270.html