However, looking at the monthly export sales, it seems that this market is showing signs of improvement. Vietnam's seafood exports to the US in May reached 151 million USD, the highest level since the beginning of 2023. Although still experiencing a negative growth of 39% compared to the same period last year, this is also the smallest decrease compared to previous months. Both shrimp and pangasius exports had a breakthrough compared to previous months: shrimp reached 68 million USD, and pangasius reached 33 million USD
According to the US Department of Agriculture, by the end of April 2023, the US had imported 924 thousand tons of seafood, valued at over US$8 billion, down 12% in volume and 20% in value over the same period last year. Among the leading exporting countries to this market, Vietnam experienced the most significant decline.
Particularly for shrimp, the US also decreased by 12% in import volume and 29% in value. In which, India alone holds the dominant market share of 35%, Ecuador accounts for 22% while Vietnam only accounts for 7%.
Pangasius fillets from Vietnam experienced the sharpest decline among frozen fish products imported into the US, while cod imports increased significantly by 37% in volume and 64% in value
Besides high inflation, a large inventory contributed to the decline in seafood exports from Vietnam to the US. US importers significantly increased purchases in the first half of 2022 due to stock sentiment and market forecast shortfalls from the previous year. However, high inflation weakened consumption demand, resulting in a high inventory. As a result, US importers require time to sell the existing inventory at lower prices, leading to increased competition and depressed prices for newly imported goods. This sharp drop in export turnover is also attributed to Vietnam.
As the inventory continues to decrease, it is expected that importers will start ordering from Vietnam again during the busy season at the end of the year.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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