AsemconnectVietnam - Australia is emerging as one of the stable and potentially growing markets for Vietnamese shrimp.

In the context of global trade being significantly impacted by geopolitical tensions, particularly conflicts in the Middle East, consolidating and expanding into highly stable markets like Australia is becoming increasingly important for the Vietnamese shrimp industry.
Shrimp exports to Australia maintain an upward trend for 5 years
During the period 2021–2025, Vietnamese shrimp exports to Australia generally maintained an upward trend, despite certain fluctuations according to market cycles. In 2021, the export value reached approximately US$188 million. In 2022, exports increased sharply to US$271.6 million, thanks to recovering demand after the COVID-19 pandemic and tariff advantages from free trade agreements such as the CPTPP, AANZFTA, and RCEP.
By 2023, export turnover decreased to approximately US$233 million due to global inflation and slowing demand for seafood in many markets. However, the period from 2024 to 2025 saw a recovery, with turnover reaching US$254.3 million in 2025, indicating that demand in the Australian market is gradually stabilizing.
Australia is currently one of Vietnam's top 5 shrimp import markets, accounting for approximately 7-8% of the country's total shrimp export turnover.
The growth trend is expected to continue in the first few months of 2026. In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports to Australia reached US$35.3 million, a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Vietnam maintains its position as the largest shrimp supplier to Australia.
According to international trade data, Australia has a significant demand for imported shrimp due to limited domestic supply. Australia's total shrimp imports fluctuated from US$317 million in 2021 to US$360.5 million in 2025, with certain variations due to consumption cycles and inventory levels.
In terms of supply structure, Vietnam is the largest shrimp exporter to Australia, accounting for approximately 65–70% of the market's total import value.
Competitors such as Thailand, China, Malaysia, and Indonesia have significantly smaller export volumes. Thailand typically ranks second with around US$45–57 million annually, mainly processed shrimp, while China and Malaysia account for even smaller proportions.
Australia's relatively high reliance on Vietnamese supplies reflects the competitive advantage of the Vietnamese shrimp industry, particularly in the processed and value-added product segments.
Stable demand and favorable consumer trends
Australia is a market with a high per capita income and a trend towards healthy food consumption. Seafood in general, and shrimp in particular, are considered a good source of protein, thus consumption demand remains quite stable.
Although Australia's population is only about 25–26 million, the average shrimp consumption reaches approximately 1.5 kg/person/year, creating a significant import demand. Consumers here are increasingly favoring convenient and value-added shrimp products such as cooked shrimp, breaded shrimp, or ready-to-cook products suitable for modern retail systems and food service channels.
In the export product structure, whiteleg shrimp dominates, contributing approximately 93–96% of total export value to Australia.
Products such as peeled shrimp (PD/PDTO), cooked shrimp (RTE), or breaded shrimp are increasingly accounting for a larger share, reflecting the trend of convenient product consumption in this market.
Strict requirements create a competitive advantage
A notable feature of the Australian market is its very strict quarantine and biosecurity system. Imported shrimp products must meet stringent regulations on disease control, traceability, and food safety as stipulated by the Australian quarantine authority.
Although these regulations create certain technical barriers, they also help protect the market from competition from suppliers that do not meet high standards. For Vietnamese businesses familiar with international standards, this is an advantage in maintaining their position in the market.
Opportunities to boost Australian market
The prolonged Middle East conflict is increasing shipping risks through routes such as Bab-el-Mandeb and Hormuz, forcing ships to take longer detours, leading to increased transportation costs, logistics fees, and fuel costs, as well as extended delivery times. Export routes to the US and EU are also affected, impacting costs and import/export plans. In this context, expanding into highly stable markets like Australia becomes even more important for Vietnam's shrimp industry.
With the advantage of being the largest shrimp supplier to Australia, Vietnam's shrimp industry still has significant room to expand its market share in this market, especially in the processed and value-added product segments.
In the context of increasingly volatile global trade, consolidating stable markets such as Australia, while diversifying export markets, will be crucial for Vietnam's shrimp industry to maintain growth and mitigate risks from geopolitical fluctuations around the world.
CK
Source: VITIC/vasep.com.vn