1. Why is it so cheap? If the deal seems to be too good to be true – it is! Seafood isn’t cheap and if it is there is a reason for that – likely the fish is mislabeled, pumped up with water or adulterated in some other way. Stay away from the “deals.”
2. Do I know you? If you don’t know your supplier, you are making a grave mistake. Suppliers should be partners, not a roster of revolving phone calls you make when you need a case of this or a case of that. Build a relationship with your purveyors, it will help you and help them.
3. Is this fish sustainable? We know there are a slew of competing eco-labels and certification programs out there – and, really, some are better than others. But don’t be lazy, take the time to look at these sustainable seafood certification programs to make sure the fish carrying their stamp really is sustainable.
4. How can I help? In the past several years, the“fishery improvement project,” or FIP, hasemerged as a way for retailers and foodservice professionals to directly contribute to the recovery and sustainability of a fishery they rely on. Groups such as Sea Pact are helping fund FIPs for Brazilian lobster FIP and other fisheries. Seafood companies, too, are contributing directly to FIPs. Do your part, get involved.
5. Where did this fish come from? Selling seafood today is all about tying the product back to the producer, whether that is a fisherman in Norway or fish farmer in Thailand. Know where your fish comes from – visit the fishing grounds or tour the farm.
6. What’s it taste like? Of course, at the end of the day, you are selling food – and food is all about taste. It’s surprising, therefore, how many retailers and restaurateurs have trouble articulating the taste of particular seafood to their customers. There are lots of ways to help your customers understand the taste of seafood, but first you need to know how it tastes.
7. Can you get it to me? Doesn’t matter if your supplier has the best fish on the planet, if they can’t get it to you when you need it, they’re of no use to you. Make sure you understand the logistics capabilities of your vendor.
8. Are you trendy? Plenty of suppliers just want to flip inventory; they don’t want to help you with research on food trends and new species. Don’t settle for an out-of-date supplier. Look for one who is current with trendsand other business developments that will help you sell more seafood.
9. Do I have a marketing plan for this? Ask yourself if you are truly prepared to sell the seafood you are brining into your supermarket or restaurant. Do you have best practices in place to care for the safety of the seafood? Do you have a marketing plan to really push sales of the fish or shellfish – something beyond just sticking it in the display case or putting it on the menu. Seafood customers need nurturing.
10. Should I be selling seafood at all? Look, it is way easier to sell beef and chicken – way easier. Seafood is harder. There are seasons to contend with, sustainability issues, logistic challenges, a variety of species to understand, etc. If you don’t want the complexity of selling seafood, don’t sell it. You won’t do it well and your customers – if given a bad fish – will become seafood haters, and that is not good for anyone.
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
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