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) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU maintained positive growth momentum in 2025, several new regulations related to animal welfare are transitioning from “ethical recommendations” to mandatory requirements, likely reshaping the shrimp supply chain for this market from 2026 onwards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $989.5 million in November 2025, up 64.6% year-on-year. The robust monthly performance played a pivotal role in driving the total export turnover for the first 11 months of 2025 to $10.5 billion, representing a 19% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s crab exports reached USD 81 million in the first 11 months of 2025, with the United States accounting for more than 82% of total value. While newly imposed reciprocal tariffs and the enforcement of provisions under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) pose significant challenges for Vietnam, the European Union is emerging as a promising growth market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment has recently issued a plan to develop specialized crab raw material zones serving official export channels, covering a scale of around 50,000 hectares. This marks a significant shift in the sea crab industry towards professional production aligned with market requirements.
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