The Vietnam Shrimp Association was officially launched on April 14 in HCM City, bringing together regulators, businesses, scientists and farmers nationwide. It marks the first unified organisation representing the entire shrimp value chain, from farming and processing to distribution.
Mai Van Hoang, chief executive of GrowMax Group, was elected chairman of the association.
The launch comes as Vietnam’s shrimp industry has expanded significantly over recent decades. Farming area has grown from around 230,000 hectares in 1991, with output of 56,000 tonnes, to more than 654,000 hectares and over 600,000 tonnes by 2015.
In 2025, shrimp exports reached approximately USD 4.6 billion, up 19 per cent year on year and the highest level on record. Shrimp now accounts for around 40-45 per cent of Vietnam’s total seafood export value, with markets spanning more than 100 countries.
Despite strong growth, the sector remains fragmented, with limited linkages reducing overall efficiency and preventing it from fully realising its potential.
Speaking at the launch, Vu Chien Thang, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, said the shrimp industry has the conditions to become a model for a new development approach, with larger scale, more advanced technology, greater sustainability and deeper integration into global markets.
“For many years, shrimp has been Vietnam’s most important seafood export, typically contributing 35-45 per cent of total turnover. However, increasingly stringent international requirements are forcing the sector to change its development model,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang presents the decision to establish the Vietnam Shrimp Association on April 14 (Photo: Huan Tran)
He added that the main challenges now lie not in output, but in quality, value addition and adaptability.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has called on the association to quickly establish its organisational structure, adopt transparent and professional operating rules and comply fully with legal regulations.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang speaks at the event (Photo: Huan Tran).
From an agricultural perspective, Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, said the association would play a crucial role in strengthening industry organisation and improving linkages among stakeholders.
Mai Van Hoang said the association aims to operate in a practical manner aligned with the needs of businesses and farmers.
With more than 27 years of experience in the shrimp sector, he said Vietnam’s ambition to become a leading global shrimp export powerhouse is achievable with coordinated efforts across the industry.
