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) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(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) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
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