Vietnam’s shrimp industry plays a strategic role, contributing up to 45% of the country’s seafood export value and providing livelihoods for millions of households. However, climate change, stricter quality and traceability requirements, and increasing global competition are posing major challenges. The development goal is no longer to increase volume but to enhance value, sustainability, and environmental responsibility.

The People’s Committee of Ca Mau Province has issued a plan to scale up the intensive super-high-density, low-water-exchange, biosecure whiteleg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) to 1,500 hectares, aiming to promote high-tech shrimp farming that is sustainable and environmentally friendly.

The global shrimp market is undergoing a period of major volatility, in which U.S. tariff policies are the dominant factor, creating significant pressure on exporters and causing clear price divergence across key markets such as the United States, China, and India.

Although there are ecological conflicts between shrimp and rice, for now, in conditions where the irrigation system is not yet fully developed, the shrimp–rice model is a temporary solution that can bring benefits to farmers.

Minh Phu Seafood Corporation recorded an after-tax profit of nearly VND 177 billion in the first six months of the year - almost four times higher than the same period last year - thanks to increased production and sales of value-added products.

In 2024, Vietnam exported shrimp to 107 markets, up from 102 in 2023. The top 5 major markets for Vietnam’s shrimp exports were China & Hong Kong, the U.S., Japan, the EU, and South Korea, accounting for 76% of the total shrimp export value. In 2024, shrimp exports capitalized on the recovery of demand and import prices in the U.S. and China, leading to significant growth in exports to these two major markets. Moreover, shrimp exporters have maintained a strong presence in markets like Japan, South Korea, and the EU, thanks to the reputation and quality of their products, as well as the added value of processed shrimp products.

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam’s total aquatic production in Q3/2025 was estimated at over 2.71 million tons, an increase of 3.3% compared with the same period in 2024. Cumulatively, in the first nine months of 2025, total aquatic production exceeded 7.26 million tons, up 3.2% year-on-year, confirming a steady recovery of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.