The export of agro-forestry-fishery products to Japan is forecast to continue thriving in 2024 as numerous export opportunities are in place.
Japan remained the third largest importer of agro-forestry-fishery products from Vietnam in the first two months of 2024, after the US and China. The shipments to this Northeast Asian market accounted for 7.2% of the total, increasing 29.2% year on year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Data from the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development show that last year, vegetable and fruit exports to Japan reached 176.2 million USD, equivalent to 106.7% of that in 2022, and coffee 319 million USD or 114.9%. However, aquatic exports fell 10.9% year on year to more than 1.5 billion USD in 2023.
Phung Thi Kim Thu, a shrimp market expert at the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said the Japanese market is believed to still hold much potential for aquatic products and recover sooner than other major markets like the US and the EU in 2024.
She elaborated that Japan is closer to Vietnam geographically compared to the US and the EU while payment methods are safer, which are favourable conditions for Vietnamese exporters of aquatic products, especially amid soaring transportation expenses. Besides, Vietnamese businesses’ processing capacity is high compared to others’ in the world, and this is also a big competitive edge in Japan.
Vietnam is taking the lead in the high-end shrimp segment there. In comparison with other large markets such as the US, the EU, and China, trade in aquatic products with Japan is assessed as more stable.
Japan was the second largest market of Vietnam’s aquatic products in 2023, after the US. While shipments to the US dropped 29% and to others in the top five down 16 - 18%, exports to Japan recorded the smallest decrease, by 12%.
In January 2024, shrimp exports to Japan topped 37 million USD, up 30% from a year earlier, making this market the third biggest importer of Vietnamese shrimp during the period, after the US and China, statistics of the General Department of Customs show.
Aside from aquatic products, coffee is also predicted to post good growth in exports to Japan this year. According to data from the Japan Coffee Association compiled by the Coffee Trading Academy, green coffee inventories in this country were at 2.39 million 60-kg sacks at the end of December 2023, 8% lower in the same month a year earlier and also the lowest level of December since 2017. This is expected to fuel Japan’s coffee trading in the time ahead. Japan’s coffee market is forecast to post 6.1 billion USD in revenue this year and an average annual growth rate of 0.24% during 2024 - 2028. The coffee consumption there could stand at 1.62kg per capita in 2024, with rising demand for specialty and high-quality beans. Given this, Vietnamese producers and exporters were recommended to sell the products suiting this market’s taste to increase value. Meanwhile, vegetable and fruit exports to Japan in January hit 16.9 million USD, surging 40.9% from last December and 53.2% from the same month of 2023. Dang Phuc Nguyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Vegetable and Fruit Association, said Japan’s vegetable and fruit demand is relatively large while imports from Vietnam are still modest. As a result, there remain numerous opportunities for businesses to expand their market share.
He suggested businesses thoroughly learn Japan’s regulations to satisfy its high standards to boost shipments to this market./.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
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
