But 2014 seems to start on a better footing.
Favorable exchange rates and lower costs, among other factors, improved the companies’ bottom lines from a year ago.
Results for the first three months of the year from the largest players — Thai Union Frozen Products, Charoen Pokphand Foods and Seafresh — all posted black figures.
Thai Union said its pre-tax profit soared 54% to THB 1.88bn ($58m), thanks to better performance both in shrimp and tuna. The group had seen its profit dive in 2013.
CP Foods’ net profit in Q1 was twice as high as a year ago, hitting THB 2.05bn ($63.2m), an improvement partly led by a recovery in its shrimp business.
Seafresh, meanwhile, overturned its losses from a year ago, with a net profit of THB 108.5 million ($3.3m) in the first quarter of the year.
Their smaller peers also showed signs of recovery.
Asian Seafoods Coldstorage, which processes frozen seafood including tuna, shrimp and squid, made a net gain of THB 24.88m (approx $766,000) in the first quarter of the year, drastically reversing a loss of THB 44.79m a year ago.
This was thanks to higher efficiency and therefore lower costs, as well as a gain of THB 18m on exchange rates — contrasting with a hefty loss of THB 114m in Q1 last year, said the group.
Tropical Canning, which processes tuna, shellfish, as well as ready meals and pet food, reversed a loss of THB 28.4m in Q1 last year, with a gain of THB 38.6m.
Revenues were up 5% or THB 63m to THB 1.24bn. This was thanks to better economic global conditions, with strong growth in particular in the Middle East, said the group. The company also cited an exchange rate gain of THB 6.8m compared to a loss of THB 11.4m a year ago.
Oishi Group, for whom 50% of the business is food related, also had a solid Q1, with profit more than doubling from a year ago to THB 34m, from just THB 15m.
Food turnover was up 4% to THB 1.52bn, driven by more sales n restaurant outlets. However, the beverage business fell 10.5% to THB 1.2bn, driving overall revenue down 3% to THB 2.72bn.
Once again, Trang Seafood Products bucked the trend of its peers.
Just as it was the only one to improve its profit last year, it was the only one to end up in the red in Q1 this year.
That said, the result showed a small improvement, with the net loss shrinking from THB 13.3m in Q1 last year, to THB 11.9m.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(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.
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