In the opening months of 2025, the global shrimp industry finds itself navigating choppy waters, with consumption trends diverging sharply across major markets. The United States has emerged as a bright spot, posting a robust recovery in imports, while China grapples with a surge in domestic production that has dampened demand for foreign shrimp. Europe, meanwhile, remains a steady if unspectacular player, its potential simmering beneath a quiet winter season.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has shed light on these shifts in a recent report, detailing the uneven currents shaping shrimp consumption. In January alone, the US imported 71,301 tons of shrimp valued at $631.2 million—a 20% jump in volume and a 32% rise in value over the same period in 2024. The average price climbed to $4.02 per pound, an 11% increase from $3.62 a year earlier, signaling a market buoyed by newfound clarity after anti-dumping and subsidy tax rulings on exporters from Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

America’s Appetite and Asia’s Ascendance

This American resurgence owes much to resolved trade uncertainties, with India’s shrimp exports to the US surging, Vietnam holding steady, and Ecuador and Indonesia registering more modest gains. Demand remains particularly strong among younger consumers—those under 35—and adherents of flexible vegetarian diets, who see shrimp as a lean, versatile protein. Yet hurdles persist: shrimp is often viewed as pricier than chicken, despite a marginal cost difference, and its preparation—peeling, deveining, cooking—deters some home cooks.

VASEP suggests a remedy lies in repositioning shrimp as an everyday staple rather than a luxury. Smaller packaging to trim costs and value-added products like pre-processed shrimp could lure hesitant consumers, bridging the gap between perception and plate. Such strategies may prove vital as the US market continues its upward trajectory, a rare beacon of growth in an otherwise fragmented global landscape.

China’s Domestic Dilemma

Across the Pacific, China presents a stark contrast. While its lobster imports thrive, warm-water shrimp—whiteleg and tiger prawns—struggle to regain footing. In 2024, China imported 916,000 tonnes of frozen warm-water shrimp, a 7% drop from the prior year, with value sliding 15% to $4.55 billion. VASEP attributes this slump to a boom in domestic shrimp farming, which has slashed local prices and squeezed out foreign competitors. Even so, shrimp retains a hefty share of China’s seafood imports—24% of volume and 41% of value—and remains a darling of e-commerce platforms.

Price volatility has added another twist. After hitting a nadir in January 2025, raw shrimp prices in China soared in March as supply tightened, hinting at a market prone to sudden swings. For exporters eyeing China, this instability underscores the challenge of competing with a burgeoning homegrown industry that shows little sign of slowing.

Europe’s Quiet Potential

Europe, by contrast, has kept a lower profile in early 2025, its winter months traditionally lean for shrimp consumption. Yet VASEP sees promise on the horizon, particularly in Germany, France, and the Netherlands, where seafood is a dietary mainstay. Long-term trends point to rising demand, with preferences varying by region: Western Europe favors premium, organic shrimp meeting stringent quality standards; Southern Europe leans toward fresh catches for traditional recipes; and Eastern Europe is warming to mid-priced options.

Convenience is key for European buyers, who increasingly seek processed shrimp products that save time without sacrificing taste. While the market has yet to hit its stride this year, its steady undercurrent of growth positions it as a sleeper hit—a region where patience and tailored offerings could yield rich rewards for exporters.

Navigating the Global Divide

The shrimp market of early 2025 is a study in contrasts: America’s vigor, China’s introspection, and Europe’s cautious optimism. VASEP’s prognosis is clear—success hinges on adaptability. Exporters must hone value-added products, streamline costs, and cater to each market’s quirks to thrive in this patchwork landscape. As the US charges ahead and China recalibrates, Europe’s slow burn offers a counterpoint, a reminder that in the world of shrimp, fortunes can shift as swiftly as the tides.