Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a new green revolution, marked by a fundamental transformation toward sustainability. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the focus has shifted from maximizing output to prioritizing product quality, consumer health, and sustainable value creation.
This green transition is the key for Vietnamese shrimp to continue strengthening its global market position and expanding its export footprint.
Vietnam Among the World’s Top 3 Shrimp Exporters
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Vietnam remains one of the top three shrimp exporters worldwide. Amid deep international integration and stricter sustainability standards, the shrimp sector faces both pressures and opportunities to transition toward eco-friendly and high-value development.
According to Vice Minister Phung Duc Tien, shrimp has played a crucial role in Vietnam’s seafood exports and agricultural economy for the past two decades.
Thanks to the joint efforts of enterprises and farmers, Vietnamese shrimp now accounts for around 13–14% of global shrimp export value, with shipments reaching over 100 countries, including demanding markets such as the U.S., EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Canada.
Challenges and the Path Toward Sustainability
Despite its success, the industry faces challenges such as climate change, rising production costs, disease outbreaks, and fierce competition from countries like Ecuador and India. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and strict global food safety and traceability regulations create new hurdles for exporters.
Vice Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized that to achieve breakthroughs, Vietnamese shrimp businesses must transform their production models, shifting from traditional to modern and sustainable farming systems.
According to Le Hang, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), “Green growth is no longer an option but a mandatory requirement to enhance competitiveness and meet global standards.”
Technological Transformation in Shrimp Farming
Vietnam’s shrimp industry is implementing several advanced technologies to achieve sustainable growth, including:
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Biofloc systems to recycle organic waste and enhance natural food sources,
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Micro-Nano Bubble Oxygen systems for optimal oxygenation,
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Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) to reduce water waste, and
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Three-phase shrimp farming models to minimize environmental impact.
The use of biological probiotics has become a new trend, improving water quality and shrimp immunity while reducing disease risks.
A leading example is MP BIO, the biological farming model developed by Minh Phu Seafood Group, which uses probiotic microorganisms and natural biofloc feed instead of chlorine-based water treatment. This approach enhances shrimp resistance, reduces pollution, and ensures product traceability.
Circular Economy and Value-Added Processing
Vietnam is also focusing on developing a circular economy in shrimp processing. By 2030, the shrimp sector aims to reuse 100% of by-products such as shells, heads, wastewater, and sludge to produce chitin and chitosan — valuable materials for food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
The government’s National Circular Economy Development Plan for Agriculture (2021–2030) highlights shrimp as a priority sector for science, technology, and innovation to promote sustainable development and reduce waste.
Learning from Global Leaders
Vietnam can learn from successful examples such as Ecuador, now the world’s leading shrimp exporter thanks to large-scale sustainable farming and strong growth in major markets like China and the U.S..
Key lessons include:
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Investing in domestic shrimp breeding research,
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Promoting eco-friendly and low-intensity aquaculture,
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Strengthening cooperation between businesses, cooperatives, and farmers, and
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Expanding deep processing and value-added exports instead of raw material exports.
Cà Mau Leads Vietnam’s Sustainable Shrimp Development
Cà Mau province stands as a pioneer in sustainable shrimp farming with 280,000 hectares of aquaculture, mainly mangrove-shrimp, rice-shrimp, and eco-friendly integrated systems.
Vice Chairman Le Van Su shared that the province is leading the development of organic and ecological shrimpcertified by international organizations. Cà Mau’s eco-shrimp products have successfully penetrated European and Japanese markets, delivering high added value and enhancing Vietnam’s shrimp brand globally.
Toward 2025: Green Growth as the Driving Force
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the shrimp sector aims to reach 1.3–1.4 million tons of output and USD 4–4.3 billion in export value by 2025.
In the first two months of 2025, shrimp exports reached USD 605 million, up 46% year-on-year, signaling strong recovery and potential for green-driven growth in alignment with global consumer trends and trade agreements.