Vietnam – biggest processed shrimp supplier for Australia

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Australia shrimp imports from five major suppliers saw a decline in the first eight months of this year, of which Indonesia suffered the deepest decrease of 50%, trailed by Malaysia (down 30%), Vietnam (down 8.3%), Thailand (1.9%) and China (0.3%).

Australia ranks seven among consumers of Vietnam shrimps, making up 3.3% of Vietnam’s total shrimp exports. However, Vietnam exports to the market fluctuated during the first nine months of this year. After enjoying a robust growth in the first quarter, exports to Australia dipped in the second quarter. In total, shrimp exports to Australia dipped 9.9% to US$75 million in nine months this year.

Australia imports around 30,000 tons of shrimps each year. However, strict food hygiene and safety measures have prevented countries to export fresh shrimps to the market.

Vietnam has remained the biggest supplier of processed shrimp to Australia over the past five years.

Vietnam relevant agencies have actively negotiated with Australian partners to ship fresh shrimps to the market. A group of Australian experts is expected to come to Vietnam in the fourth quarter of this year for evaluation, testing and to consider conditions for the import of fresh shrimps to the market.

After Vietnam becomes the first country to ship fresh shrimps to Australia, it is expected that exports to other demanding markets in the world will grow rapidly.