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) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
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