1. Vietnam's seafood exports surpassed the pandemic to reach the target of 8.9 billion USD. In 2021, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out strongly in Ho Chi Minh City and 19 southern provinces in the third quarter, strict epidemic prevention regulations made most seafood processing factories only maintain 30-50% of production. Seafood exports in the third quarter of 2021 decreased by 24-27% compared to the same period in 2021
Seafood exports at the end of the year reached 8.9 billion USD, up 6% compared to 2020. In which, shrimp brought in nearly 3.9 billion USD, up 4%, pangasius accelerated sharply in the last 2 months. with full year results of over 1.6 billion USD, up 8.4%; Export of marine products reached US$3.4 billion, up 7%.
2. Seafood exports to the US market reached a record of US$2 billion, up 27% compared to 2020, accounting for 23% of Vietnam's total seafood exports.
In addition, exports to many markets had outstanding growth: the EU increased by 12% (in which, most of the member countries increased imports from Vietnam by 10-75%); Exports to Korea increased by 6%, while exports to some countries in the CPTPP such as Australia increased by 16%, Mexico increased by 49%.
Seafood exports to Russia increased by 21% thanks to the increase in the number of enterprises allowed to export to this market by 25 to 50 enterprises in the past year.
3. Seafood exports to China fell to the lowest level in 5 years.
China's zero Covid policy has strongly affected Vietnam's seafood exports to China. China's strict inspection to trace the corona virus on imported seafood products through sea, land and even air border gates, caused traffic jams and customs clearance of imported goods into this market for most of the year 2021. Therefore, seafood exports to China and Hong Kong decreased by 17% to 1.1 billion USD, the lowest level in 5 years.
4. The average price of seafood exports to major markets increased by 10-30% on average. In addition to the levers to promote seafood exports such as tax benefits from FTAs and strong demand in markets, the increase in export prices is a major factor in increasing seafood export turnover in 2021, especially are the last months of the year when orders increase and supply is low.
Accordingly, the average price of frozen pangasius fillets exported to the US market increased in the last 2 months of the year by more than 1 USD/kg compared to the same period last year. The average price of importing Vietnamese shrimp into the US market also increased from 11 USD at the end of 2020 to 12 - 13 USD/kg by the end of 2021.
5. Shipping charges to markets increased sharply by 4-10 times compared to before the epidemic, accompanied by difficulties in domestic transportation, goods in many localities were congested. In addition, input costs have increased sharply due to the Covid-19 epidemic: increased raw material prices, epidemic prevention and control costs, transportation costs, etc., leading to an increase in production costs and export prices.
To get more detailed information and data on Vietnam's seafood production and exports to markets in 2021 and forecast for 2022, please register: Report on Vietnam's Seafood Exports in 2021, to be released in February 2022.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
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
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn
