The global surimi market landscape in 2025
In 2025, the global fish cake and surimi market entered a clear recovery cycle following a period of tightened consumer spending. The main drivers came from the rising demand for convenient, affordable foods, particularly in Asia and through modern retail channels in the US and the EU.
Surimi benefits from being a reasonably priced protein source that is easy to process and suitable for ready-to-eat and convenience products. In the US, “imitation crab sticks” continued to gain strong traction in retail and online channels thanks to their competitive pricing and convenience.
In the EU, demand recovered with a preference for smaller-packaged, convenience-oriented products that help optimize household spending. Some market forecasts also indicate that the EU consumes a significant volume of surimi raw materials.
Vietnam accelerates exports, with strong growth in the EU
Thanks to these trends and the efforts of enterprises, 2025 was a positive year for Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi industry, with continuous growth recorded from the beginning of the year, although the growth rate showed signs of slowing toward year-end.
South Korea, Thailand, China, the EU and Japan were the five largest importers of Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi in 2025, accounting for over 81% of total export value. Among them, the EU stood out as the most notable market, with “late but rapid growth” accelerating strongly toward the end of the year.
Exports to the EU reached over USD 35 million, up 99% compared with 2024. Growth gained momentum in the final months of the year, at times reaching triple-digit rates. This performance is particularly significant as the EU imposes strict requirements on standards, documentation and traceability; meeting these requirements helps Vietnamese exporters raise overall quality benchmarks and expand into other demanding markets.
Alongside the EU, exports to the other four top markets also increased compared with 2024. Exports to China grew steadily throughout the year, reaching over USD 54 million, up 41%.
Meanwhile, South Korea remained the largest importer of Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi. However, exports to this market were relatively unstable, with declines recorded in several months. Total export value reached nearly USD 83 million, up only 5%.
Outlook for 2026
The global fish cake and surimi market is expected to continue growing in 2026, with demand remaining strong, especially in the convenience food segment. However, importers are likely to prioritize suppliers that ensure consistent quality, on-time delivery and complete, compliant documentation. The industry will continue to face cost pressures, while quota and seasonal factors may keep raw material prices high, particularly for whitefish surimi.
Demand for value-added products is expected to grow faster than for raw materials, especially items such as imitation crab sticks and seasoned fish cakes.
Market requirements related to labeling, additives, allergen information, traceability, factory standards and supply chain responsibility will become increasingly stringent, serving as decisive factors in securing orders in major markets such as the EU and the US.
Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are projected to maintain their growth momentum in 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
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