Vietnam Continues to be The Foremost Provider of Shrimp to Japan.

In the first half of this year, the Japanese market purchased $236 million USD worth of shrimp from Vietnam, a decrease of 29% from the same period. The shrimp export to Japan from Vietnam in June 2023 decreased by 35%, the steepest decline since March of this year.

The export of Vietnamese shrimp to Japan faced difficulties earlier this year due to the sharp depreciation of the Japanese Yen. By the beginning of July 2023, the Yen had depreciated significantly, exceeding 145 yen per USD. This posed challenges for shrimp consumption in this market, as prices had to be lowered to match the decline of the Japanese yen.

Among the three main shrimp product categories exported to Japan, white-leg shrimp (vannamei) accounted for 63.5%, black tiger shrimp (monodon) accounted for 17.9%, and the remaining 18.6% was other shrimp types. Unlike other markets, the proportion of other shrimp types exported to Japan is higher than that of black tiger shrimp. The value of white-leg shrimp exports to Japan in the first half of 2023 reached $150 million USD, a decrease of 26%, while the value of black tiger shrimp exports decreased by 45% to $42 million USD. Notably, the export of other shrimp types to Japan increased to $44 million USD, a decrease of 15%.

In the first six months of 2023, the average export price of frozen white-leg shrimp from Vietnam to Japan ranged from $6.5 to $10.3 USD/kg. The average export price of frozen black tiger shrimp to Japan ranged from $14.1 to $17.7 USD/kg. The average export prices of frozen white-leg and black tiger shrimp to Japan in the second quarter of this year showed a slight decrease compared to the first quarter.

 Japan has also seen increased export efforts by many businesses this year due to the perceived stability in demand and higher profitability rates in Japan, thanks to high-value-added products and improved processing. With domestic raw shrimp supply decreasing due to shrimp diseases, Vietnamese processed shrimp products maintain an advantage over other markets when exported to Japan.

Some of the largest shrimp exporting companies to Japan include Sao Ta Food JSC, Hai Viet JSC, Minh Phu Corporation, and Minh Phu Corporation Hau Giang.

In the Japanese market, Vietnamese shrimp also competes with shrimp from India and Ecuador. According to data from the International Trade Centre (ITC), in the first five months of this year, while total shrimp imports to Japan decreased by 11%, imports from the largest source, Vietnam, also recorded a decline, but Japan's imports from India and Ecuador grew significantly, by 43% and 20% respectively. Data from the Indian Ministry of Commerce showed that in the first five months of this year, Japan saw strong growth in imports of black tiger shrimp from India.

Vietnam remains the largest shrimp supplier to Japan, holding a market share of 23.7%. Thailand ranks second with a market share of 17.7%. India ranks fourth with 14.5% and Ecuador ranks tenth with 2.1%.

Cre: vasep.com.vn

• Portuguese food group acquires 18% stake in cod farming company Norcod

• Indonesia implements radioactive-free shrimp certification for exports to the United States

• India is world’s second-largest shrimp producer. That is now under threat

• Ca Mau’s shrimp industry moves towards “green” growth

• Floods devastate aquaculture, processing operations in Vietnam

• Ecuador Leads Global Shrimp Exports, Surpassing USD 7 Billion in 2025

• India's marine product exports rise 16% as new markets offset US dip

• Skretting presents the first shrimp feed with insect meal in Vietnam

• Sharing: EU increases shrimp imports in the first 9 months of the year

• Gideon De Oro opens high tech Cebu shrimp plant, to revive exports

• White-leg shrimp facing WSSV: When density and environment fluctuate together