We export live Neocaridina and Sulawesi shrimp from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to shops and wholesalers worldwide — one shipment every week, with a live arrival warranty on every box.
The five steps, start to finish
- Order confirmed — species, colour lines, box size, and your destination country.
- Grading and quarantine — shrimp are graded and held before packing. This is the step that determines most of your live-arrival outcome, more than the flight itself.
- Packing — breather bags (not sealed airtight bags — oxygen exchange matters over a multi-hour flight), insulated box, heat or cold packs depending on season and route.
- Air freight — weekly shipment cadence, tracked from pickup to arrival.
- Arrival, acclimation, and warranty window — live arrival warranty applies from the moment the box is opened; document any losses within the stated claim window.
The whole process runs about one week from order confirmation to your box landing, for most destinations.
What it actually costs to land a box (real customs data, not a vague estimate)
Most “how to import shrimp” content online either skips customs entirely or applies food-shrimp tariff numbers to ornamental shrimp by mistake — those are two different product categories under US customs law.
| Factor | What actually applies to live ornamental shrimp |
|---|---|
| US customs classification | HTS 0301.19.00.00 — “other live ornamental fish” (shrimp is classified here for import purposes, not under the seafood/food chapters) |
| Base duty | Free on this HTS line |
| Current reciprocal tariff on Vietnam-origin goods | 20% (40% if flagged as transshipped), per the July 2025 US–Vietnam trade agreement |
| Anti-dumping duty on Vietnamese shrimp (4–25%+) | Does not apply — that’s specific to frozen/processed food shrimp from named seafood processors, a different HTS chapter entirely |
| Import permitting | US Fish & Wildlife / APHIS may require an invertebrate import permit depending on species and port of entry |
Practical example: on a USD 700 box, the reciprocal tariff works out to roughly USD 140 — not the 70%+ figures sometimes seen in seafood trade press, which are about frozen shrimp, not live ornamental invertebrates. Freight itself (DHL/FedEx live-animal air service) varies by destination airport and season — ask us for a quote to your specific location rather than relying on a flat number.
Regulations for other destination countries (EU, UK, Australia, etc.) differ — tell us your destination and we’ll flag anything you need to check on your end before ordering.
Live arrival: what we actually do about it
- Breather bags, not sealed bags — allows gas exchange over a multi-hour flight instead of oxygen depletion in a sealed environment.
- Insulated boxes with heat/cold packs sized to the season and route, not a one-size-fits-all box.
- Grading and quarantine before packing — weak or stressed shrimp are the majority cause of DOA (dead on arrival), and catching that before packing matters more than anything done in transit.
- Live arrival warranty, in writing, before you pay — ask us for the exact terms and claim window so you know what’s covered before you order, not after something goes wrong.
FAQ
Can you ship live shrimp to my country?
Yes, worldwide, on a weekly cadence. Message us with your destination to confirm.
How long does shipping take?
Order to arrival typically runs about one week, depending on destination and flight availability.
Will I owe anti-dumping duty on shrimp from Vietnam?
No — anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese shrimp apply to frozen food shrimp, a different customs category. Live ornamental shrimp is classified separately (HTS 0301.19.00.00) and isn’t subject to that duty; you’ll pay the standard reciprocal tariff instead (currently 20% for Vietnam-origin goods to the US).
What happens if shrimp arrive dead?
Every box ships with a live arrival warranty. Contact us for the exact claim process and window before ordering.
Do I need an import permit?
Depending on your country and the species, yes — US buyers in particular may need an invertebrate import permit from Fish & Wildlife/APHIS. Ask us and we’ll tell you what we know for your destination, though you should confirm directly with your own customs authority.
Tariff and classification data sourced from the US HTS tariff schedule and July 2025 US–Vietnam trade agreement coverage. Figures current as of this writing — confirm rates before invoicing, as trade terms are subject to change.
