In the first seven months of this year Vietnam’s seafood exports rose 4.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, with turnover of $3.6 billion.
Seafood exports faced some difficulties earlier in the year. From the second quarter, however, the signs have been positive, especially for shrimp and pangasius exports.
Demand for imported shrimp has increased in the US since April, which is good news for Vietnam’s exporters. Ecuador, a major shrimp exporter, is likely to see lower output due to earthquakes and disease.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) increased the average duty on shrimp imports from India to 4.98 per cent from the previous 2.96 per cent, according to ICRA Limited, an Indian credit ratings agency. Thailand is also losing its prestige in the global shrimp market.
Global shrimp volumes are forecast to decline, pushing up prices by 10 to 15 per cent. This represents a great opportunity for Vietnam to increase the value of its shrimp exports to the US.
The US and Vietnam signed an agreement in July resolving disputes over US anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese shrimp. The two agreed on a framework to resolve two WTO disputes, DS404 and DS492, in which Vietnam objected to the US’s anti-dumping measures.
As a result, the Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, Vietnam’s largest shrimp exporter, will no longer be subject to anti-dumping duties when exporting to the US. In a DOC decision, Minh Phu’s dumping margin was found to be zero or not significant in three consecutive administrative reviews. It will be refunded part of the anti-dumping duties it had deposited in previous years, estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
The implementation of the Vietnam-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) has also had a positive impact on Vietnam’s shrimp exports.
In the first year of the agreement’s implementation 10,000 tons of Vietnamese shrimp will enjoy a tax rate of zero per cent. The figure for Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia is 5,000 tons. Over the next five years the figure for Vietnam will increase to 15,000 tons. This gives Vietnam’s shrimp more advantages than in the ASEAN-South Korea FTA, with a 5,000-ton figure on shrimp from all ten ASEAN countries.
VASEP said that the export of other major seafood items would also see good results over the remaining months of the year. It forecast export turnover of $7.1 billion, an 8 per cent increase compared to 2015.
Shrimp exports will earn $3.2 billion, up 11 per cent, tuna $500 million, up 10 per cent, and squid $450 million, up 5 per cent. Pangasius exports, meanwhile, will earn $1.6 billion, down 4 per cent compared to 2015.
VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe said that Vietnam’s seafood exports will face a shortage of shrimp supplies over the remaining months of the year due to the impacts of saltwater intrusion. Other seafood may also be affected due to problems in offshore fishing.
Vietnamese seafood companies will need import $1 billion worth of pangasius, shrimp, and squid to meet demand for exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
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