Which market imports the most Vietnamese shrimp?

China including Hong Kong. According to VASEP, in the first nine months of 2025 this bloc imported about USD 966 million, nearly 30% of shrimp export value, up 65% on the same period. The US ranked third in the same period at about USD 587 million.

Which buyer market should you approach first?

It depends on your certifications and products. If the plant is strong in value-added processed products, Japan and South Korea deserve priority. If you hold certifications that suit Europe, the EU is growing steadily. The US needs a close look at tariff risk and trade investigations.

Do the VASEP figures apply to a full year?

No. Each figure in this article is tied to a specific period such as the first seven or nine months of 2025. Do not compare a figure from one period directly with a figure from another.

International Shrimp Buyers: Five Market Groups to Meet First

A common question from mid-sized shrimp companies is where to find buyers. The short answer is five places, but the more useful answer is which place suits each plant.

International shrimp buyers are customer groups with different buying habits and standards in each market, so calling them importers abroad does not say enough. According to VASEP, the five largest markets for Vietnamese shrimp are China including Hong Kong, the US, Japan, the EU and South Korea, which together take about 76% of shrimp export value. The figure is reported in the press. The general context: full-year 2025 shrimp exports reached about USD 4.6 billion, up 19% and the highest ever.

Shrimp in a bowl, a sample for buyers to inspect

Five market groups through VASEP figures

Each figure below belongs to a specific period, since comparing across periods is not sound.

China including Hong Kong: about USD 710 million in the first seven months of 2025, roughly 29%, up 78%. For the first nine months this bloc alone reached USD 966 million, nearly 30% of shrimp export value. VASEP points to proximity and favorable logistics.
Japan: about USD 320 million in the first seven months, up 15%, the largest market within the CPTPP bloc. VASEP says Japanese buyers favor value-added and ready-to-eat products.
EU: about USD 309 million in the first seven months, up 17%. Germany grew 28% and France 17%.
South Korea: about USD 203 million in the first seven months, roughly 8% of the total, which VASEP sees as a stable market thanks to demand for processed shrimp and convenience products for the restaurant channel.
US: about USD 404 million in the first seven months, up roughly 3%, and about USD 587 million in the first nine months, ranking third. Exports to the US fell sharply in July after many orders were rushed ahead of a 20% reciprocal tariff and anti-dumping investigations. VASEP warns of weaker competitiveness against Ecuador, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Four buyer types, four sets of questions

Beyond the market, buyers differ by their role in the chain.

Importers and traders buy to resell, and care about price, stability and enough paperwork to clear customs.
Processors and repackers buy raw material for further processing, and care about size, yield loss and a steady delivery schedule.
Retail chains buy to their own label, and care about packaging specification, labels and sustainability certification.
Food service distributors buy for restaurants and hotels, and care about easy-to-use products and quarterly pricing.

Exhibition textbooks also divide attendees into buyers who choose brands, purchasing staff who reorder and technical specialists who only recommend. All three can sit in the same buyer company. See also the article on market segmentation at trade shows.

Export goods passing through a port before reaching buyer groups abroad

Which international shrimp buyers to approach first

Choose by three things. First, the certifications you hold: which certification matches which market's requirements. Second, the plant's strongest product: basic processing, value-added or raw material. Third, risk tolerance: markets with shifting tariffs and rules need a bigger financial buffer.

For small and mid-sized companies, picking one or two groups in the first year and doing it thoroughly is usually better than spreading across all five. The article on choosing an international seafood trade show helps match market groups with suitable shows.

What to ask before the meeting

Which product forms and sizes does this buyer purchase, and from which sources today.
Which certifications do they require, and which documents should be sent before the meeting.
Do they decide by season or by quarter, and how long does the evaluation cycle usually take.

The answers decide which part of the shrimp export capability file to send and which samples to prepare.

An example of choosing among international shrimp buyers for a hypothetical plant

Suppose a plant is strong in cooked peeled shrimp and already holds BRCGS certification. With this profile, Japan and South Korea deserve to go first, because VASEP describes both as favoring value-added or convenient processed products. The EU is the second group, where Germany and France are growing. The US can wait until there is a clear plan for tariffs. If the plant mainly sells frozen whole shrimp at competitive prices, the order may flip, since China is near and has favorable logistics. This is only a hypothetical example to show the way of thinking, not a recommendation for any specific company.

The numbers are context only

Market data changes by period, tax policy and ordering cycle. Use it to know where to look, not to promise buyers or set absolute targets. When designing a seafood business matching program, the article on business matching for the seafood industry explains how to match buyers by link in the chain.

When you need to connect with the right shrimp buyers

If your shrimp company or association is looking for international shrimp buyers and needs a meeting schedule, or wants to host delegations on plant and shrimp farm visits, you can send a request through the quote page or book a call with Nguyễn Anh Trung. Tell us the main product, the certifications you hold and the market you want to open first.

Choosing one buyer group and preparing fully is usually more effective than aiming at all five with an incomplete file.