The primary purpose of publishing this report is to highlight the activity of the European processing industry and its reliance on imported raw materials.
Despite important changes made on the study during the last years, it consistently reflects the fact that the processing industry is reliant on stable supply of raw materials from a wide range of fish and seafood species.
The report shows the recent trends in supplies of many whitefish/finfish species, tuna, herring, mackerel, surimi, and some freshwater fish species and for the first time data for shrimps and cephalopods. Some of the key findings of this year are as follows:
· Total market supply has stayed static at 14.7 million tonnes
· Imported share has grown to 9.548 million tonnes and equals 65 per cent
· Whitefish import dependency has stayed level at 89 per cent for wild capture and > 91 per cent including aquaculture products
· EU catches estimated to have reduced to 4.821 million tonnes (inc. nonfood use)
· Exports have moved down by 13.7 per cent to 1.870 million tonnes
· Cod is number one whitefish species moving above one million tonnes
· Alaska pollock back to number two with growth of 18 per cent
· Global quota trends are positive
The findings confirm that imports are the backbone of the EU processing industry. In the context of a complex regulatory environment with direct and potentially significant relevance to the sector, AIPCE-CEP continues its stance of being actively engaged using its expertise and technical competences to provide coherent business feedback and suggestions to the members of the European Parliament, the EU Commission and EU member states. A successful market for fish and seafood in the EU is best served by having a vibrant and sustainable fishing sector in the EU and in parallel to allowing the use of well managed resources from all around the world.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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