2025 Vietnam Shrimps (HS 030617) Export: Market Shift

Key Takeaways

Shrimps, classified under HS Code 030617, exhibited high volatility from January to October 2025.

• Market Pulse: Exports surged 103% from January ($108.55M) to August ($220.92M), despite a 7.6% contraction in June and a 4.9% dip in September, driven by U.S. tariff anticipation and EU/Asia diversification.
• Structural Shift: Vietnam Shrimps Export relies heavily on China (16.63% value) and the U.S. (16.61%), with Japan absorbing 63.94% of volume but only 13.36% of value—highlighting a split between premium and bulk demand.
• Product Logic: HS Code 030617 trade data reveals a bifurcated market: frozen shrimps (38.4% share) dominate, but unit prices range from $1.06/kg (bulk) to $8+/kg (processed), emphasizing margin potential in premium processing.

This overview covers the period from January to October 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Vietnam Shrimps (HS Code 030617) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Vietnam Shrimps Export trend from January to October 2025 showed a clear upward trajectory despite notable monthly volatility. After a soft start at $108.55M in January, exports surged 44.9% in March to $141.2M and peaked at $220.92M in August, marking a 103% increase from the opening month. The trend was punctuated by a 7.6% contraction in June and a 4.9% dip in September, though both setbacks were followed by quick recoveries.

Drivers & Industry Context

The June downturn aligns with market anticipation of U.S. reciprocal tariffs imposed in August [Himex], which pressured forward contracts and shipment timing. However, the overall growth in HS Code 030617 value was driven by aggressive market diversification into the EU and Asia, as exporters pivoted from U.S. exposure [Tridge]. The August peak reflects stockpiling ahead of expected regulatory tightening, while September’s dip indicates temporary disruption from tariff implementation before October’s partial rebound.

Table: Vietnam Shrimps Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam HS Code 030617 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

According to yTrade data, the dominant sub-code for Vietnam HS Code 030617 Export is frozen shrimps and prawns under 03061721, capturing 38.4% of the total export value from January to October 2025. The second largest category, 03061722, holds a 36.6% share, reflecting a highly concentrated market. The remaining sub-codes comprise minor segments with lower value contributions, primarily consisting of various processed forms.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

Unit prices range from about 1.06 USD/kg for bulk frozen products to over 8 USD/kg for more processed items, indicating a specialized market where value is driven by processing depth and quality rather than commodity price sensitivity. This HS Code 030617 breakdown reveals a trade structure segmented into low-volume, high-value niches and high-volume, lower-value bulk exports. Suppliers should focus on premium processing to capitalize on higher margins in this differentiated market.

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Vietnam Shrimps Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Vietnam's Shrimps export destinations from January to October 2025 show a heavy reliance on China Mainland and the United States, which together account for over 33% of total export value. While China leads in shipment frequency (13.6K shipments), indicating constant market access, the nearly identical value share with the U.S. (16.63% vs. 16.61%) reveals two distinct pillars of demand. This creates a concentration risk where any regulatory shift or economic slowdown in these two markets would immediately impact Vietnam's shrimp export revenue. Japan emerges as a critical volume driver, absorbing 63.94% of total quantity, making it an essential outlet for production scale despite its lower value ratio.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The trade partners for Shrimps display clear segmentation: China's high frequency and solid value ratio suggest a fragmented, quality-conscious retail and food service sector demanding regular, smaller shipments. The U.S. market presents a profile of bulk, industrial-scale purchasing, with high value generated from large, infrequent orders, likely for reprocessing and distribution. Japan’s massive quantity share (63.94%) drastically outweighs its value contribution (13.36%), defining it as a purely commodity-driven market focused on price-sensitive bulk processing. This spread offers Vietnam both margin potential from U.S. and Chinese buyers and volume scale from Japan, necessitating a dual production strategy.

Table: Vietnam Shrimps (HS Code 030617) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam Shrimps Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, the Vietnam Shrimps export market is overwhelmingly dominated by a core group of high-volume, repeat buyers. This segment, representing 71.62% of the total export value, indicates a stable and contract-driven supply chain primarily serving large retailers and food processors. These key accounts, including major players like Costco Wholesale Taiwan, form the market's anchor, making it less transactional and more relationship-based.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

The heavy reliance on these loyal partners requires a sales strategy focused on relationship management and consistent supply chain execution to protect this revenue stream. Given the high concentration risk from a few major accounts, exporters should also develop secondary markets among smaller, frequent buyers to diversify exposure. This is particularly critical as potential U.S. import restrictions [USDA] could disrupt key trade flows, making understanding HS Code 030617 buyer trends essential for resilience.

Table: Vietnam Shrimps (HS Code 030617) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Shrimps Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify buyer base: Develop secondary markets among smaller, frequent buyers to reduce reliance on the 71.62% of export value tied to a few major accounts like Costco Taiwan.
• Prioritize premium processing: Shift production toward higher-value processed shrimps (up to $8/kg) to capitalize on margins, given the commodity-driven bulk demand from Japan.
• Monitor U.S. and China regulatory shifts: Anticipate disruptions from potential U.S. import restrictions or Chinese economic slowdowns, which could impact 33% of export value.
• Optimize logistics for bulk shipments: Reduce costs for Japan-bound volume (63.94% of quantity) to maintain competitiveness in this price-sensitive segment.
• Leverage EU and Asia expansion: Double down on markets like the EU, where diversification efforts have already offset U.S. tariff risks.

Take Action Now —— Explore Vietnam Shrimps HS Code 030617 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Vietnam Shrimps Export in 2025?

Vietnam's Shrimps export surged 103% from January to August 2025, driven by market diversification into the EU and Asia, though monthly volatility reflected U.S. tariff pressures and pre-regulatory stockpiling.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Vietnam Shrimps (HS Code 030617) in 2025?

China Mainland and the U.S. dominate, each contributing ~16.6% of export value, while Japan absorbs 63.94% of total quantity but only 13.36% of value.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Vietnam Shrimps Export in 2025?

Prices range from 1.06 USD/kg for bulk frozen products (e.g., Japan’s commodity-driven demand) to over 8 USD/kg for processed items (e.g., U.S. and China’s quality-focused segments).

Q4. What should exporters in Vietnam focus on in the current Shrimps export market?

Exporters must prioritize relationship management with core buyers (71.62% of value) while diversifying to smaller accounts and premium processing to mitigate concentration and regulatory risks.

Q5. What does this Vietnam Shrimps export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

U.S. and Chinese buyers benefit from stable, high-value supply chains, while Japanese buyers rely on Vietnam for cost-effective bulk sourcing, though all face potential tariff disruptions.

Q6. How is Shrimps typically used in this trade flow?

Frozen and processed shrimp (HS 030617) primarily serve retail, food service, and industrial reprocessing, with bulk shipments for commodity markets and premium cuts for niche segments.