First - the business climate. Europe is not monolithic, and although you may see headlines about European economic problems, they are impacting different countries very differently.
The biggest problems for seafood are Spain and Greece, with the Spanish market being especially vulnerable. Spains weakness may spill over into the cod market, and into some types of shrimp, as sales that would have gone to Spain seek homes elsewhere.
But business is strong in Germany, the UK and other parts of Europe, including Russia, and so there is no indication that somehow the European market is suffering a crisis at this time.
One of the major themes is value added seafood. At the Dutch seafood breakfast, major importer and European distributor Culimar introduced new branding, for its responsible artisanal seafood.
Marketing manager Martin Van Geest also said they were competing with a plague of adulterated products - particularly shrimp, where a 20% glaze product often does not produce 800 grams of net weight - but 750 or less. In southern Europe, price is supreme and it is very hard to sell 100% net weight. Their business is targeting high end foodservice and customers who want guaranteed quality.
Culimar also introduced a new snow crab item, a merus pack of snow crab meat harvested in Korea and processed in their plant in Vietnam. There is an opportunity for snow crab in Europe, both as sections and meat, and it is being driven by chefs who want an alternative to high priced king crab.
Over time, snow crab should become a more important item in Europe.
There is a huge ongoing debate here about marketing sustainability. There is a lot of spin from different organizations about how important their label is, and there is a sense that the fight over sustainability certifications is hurting the industry.
Alaskan companies have both reported some customers who wish to retain an MSC label - for marketing reasons such as having packaging created, and having invested in educating customers, while others say their buyers in some of the most sophisticated markets, like Germany, are fine with the Global Trust Certification.
In fact, Mark Tupper, president of Triad Fisheries which markets troll caught kings and coho under the Bruce Gore label, said his customers in Germany were fine with their switch to Global Trust Certification.
In fact, Triad is just completing the chain of custody inspection, and plans to be the first Alaskan company certified with the Global Trust chain of custody certification.
We will have much more about the sustainability issues, but long term, it is clear that there is a different environment emerging about how to market sustainability, and the discussion has moved from whether a fishery is sustainable or not, to how to best convey that to consumers.
Finally - cold water shrimp prices are still not settled, and may not be settled at the show this year. Some major Canadian companies want to get some feedback from customers and then look at their costs to determine final pricing - but no one thinks the market can sustain an increase. The issue is how to maintain stability.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
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
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