In September 2019, among the top 6 major importers, cephalopod exports to South Korea, Japan, EU, and ASEAN dropped, only exports to China and the US climbed.
In the first 9 months of 2019, Vietnamese cephalopod exports rose only in January and March, the other months exports fell.
Of the total cephalopod structure of Vietnam, octopus accounted for 51%, and squid represented for 49%. Vietnam still mainly exported live /fresh/frozen cephalopod products (accounting for 71%), while processed products were still low (accounting for 29%).
Of the total structure of exported cephalopod products, dried/salted / live/fresh/frozen octopus (HS 03) increased by 2.2%; dried/baked squid (HS 03) dropped the most by 28.5% over the same period in 2018.
South Korea was still the largest importer for Vietnamese cephalopod, accounting for 39.4% of Vietnam's total cephalopod exports to markets. In the first 9 months of 2019, cephalopod exports to South Korea reached over US$168.6 million, down 6.2% compared to the same period in 2018. After continuous growth in the first 4 months of 2019, exports this item to South Korea decreased continuously from May to September.
Falling in export prices and unstable consumption demand were one of the factors affecting Vietnamese cephalopod exports to South Korea in the first months of the year. The tariff advantage from the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) partly helped to boost Vietnamese cephalopod exports to this market.
In the structure of Vietnamese cephalopod products exported to Korea, octopus still dominated with 75%, and squid accounted for 25%. South Korea mainly imported cephalopod products from Vietnam such as dried squid (skin off), frozen cleanned processed squid, frozen sushi squid, frozen whole octopus, chilled octopus...
Japan - Vietnamese second largest importer of cephalopod, imported over US$108 million of cephalopod from Vietnam in the first 9 months of 2019, down 0.9% compared to the same period in 2018. After positive growth in July, Vietnamese cephalopod exports to Japan fall continuously in August and September.
The share of Vietnamese cephalopod and octopus exported to Japan was nearly equivalent. In the structure of cephlopod of Vietnam exported to Japan, fresh/frozen squid (HS 03) accounted for the highest proportion.
Vietnam's main cephalopod products exported to Japan in the first 9 months of this year included various products such as frozen whole squid, squid sliced cut, frozen fillet squid, frozen cuttlefish, cuttlefish pine cut, frozen cuttlefish comb cut, processed cuttlefish, sushi squid, breaded octopus ...
EU was Vietnam's third largest importer of Vietnamese cephalopod accounting for 12% of Vietnam's total export value of cephalopod to markets. Exports of this item to the EU market in the first 9 months of this year reached nearly US$52 million, down 15.6% over the same period in 2018. Spain, Italia and the Netherlands were the 3 largest cephalopod importers of Vietnam in the EU. In the first 9 months of 2019, exports to Italy and Spain dropped by 18.7% and 2.1% respectively, while exports to the Netherlands were nearly the same compared to the same period in 2018.
The Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is about to take effect, Vietnamese cephalopod exports to the EU will be more favorable due to tax incentives. However, businesses must meet the rule of origin to be able to enjoy these tariff preferences.
Cephalopod exports to the EU continued to be affected by the EU's IUU yellow card warning. The trend can only be reversed when Vietnam is assessed positively after the EC inspection in November 2019.
Cephalopod exports tended to decline significantly in some major markets such as South Korea, Japan, EU, and ASEAN. It is forecasted that the export situation in the last months of the year will not positive, the cephalopod export value in 2019 is expected to reach about US$626 million, down 7% compared to 2018.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(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.
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