Seafood is one of the products benefit from the FTA. In 2016, shrimp exports to Korea will have advantages thanks to the free trade agreement between the two countries. 7 tax lines on shrimp for were deleted. South Korea also committed to provide tariff quotas for 10,000 tonnes of Vietnam shrimp in the first year and rise to 15,000 tons after 5 years with a import-export tax of 0%.
As the results, Vietnam's shrimp have more advantages over other countries in the ASEAN region such as Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, while South Korea only give quotas of 5,000 tons for ASEAN.
Vietnam seafood are forecasted to penetrate deeper into South Korean market, with advantages such as lower freight costs compare to some rival countries in South America. In addition, with the elimination of import tariffs, Vietnam seafood price in Korean market will be cheaper than before, thereby encourage people to consume more.
In 2015, Vietnam's shrimp export to South Korea reached nearly US$238 million, down 25 percent from 2014, but the country still is the fifth shrimp import market of Vietnam, just after the US, Japan, EU and China. With incentives from the FTA, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the country will continue strong growths.
In addition to frozen shrimp, the other seafood products such as squid, octopus continue to have opportunities in the market. In 2015, the export of cephalopods to South Korea reached more than US$163 million.
Around 22 countries are exporting cephalopods to the Korea market, in which Vietnam helds the first rank, followed by Chile and Peru. South Korea is currently the biggest importing market for Vietnam cephalopods, accounting for 38% of the total exports of Vietnam cephalopods.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(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.
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