In June 2020, among the main importers, Vietnam's cephalopod exports recorded positive growth in many markets such as South Korea, ASEAN, China, the US, Taiwan, and Israel. Export to Japan and the EU still has not increased. Of the total cephalopod export structure of Vietnam, squid accounted for 55.1%, octopus made up for 44.9%.
South Korea was still the largest importer of Vietnamese cephalopod, accounting for 42.5% of the total export value of this item of Vietnam to markets. Vietnam's cephalopod exports to South Korea jumped by 23.5% in June 2020. However, due to a decrease in the previous months, the export of cephalopod to this market still diminished by 15% in the first 6 months of this year reaching over US$ 102 million.
Japan ranked second in import cephalopod of Vietnam, accounting for 24.4%. Vietnamese cephalopod exports to Japan in the first 6 months of 2020 reached US$ 58.6 million, down 21% compared to the same period in 2019. Vietnam mainly exports to Japan products such as frozen cuttlefish, frozen squid, frozen sushi squid, frozen Geso squid, Sugata frozen squid, Marusaki frozen squid slices, frozen pine cut squid, frozen breaded octopus, frozen octopus surimi, frozen processed octopus…
According to the International Trade Center (ITC), in the first 5 months of 2020, Japan's cephalopod imports reached US$ 146.9 million, down 4.4% compared to the same period in 2019. Japan imported cephalopod from 11 supplies. China, Vietnam, and Thailand were the three largest suppliers, accounting for 81%, 9.5%, and 4.8% of the total import value of Japanese cephalopod respectively.
Japan imports mainly products such as processed squid (except for CO), processed octopus (except for CO), fresh squid, smoked/frozen/ dried/salted octopus. Processed squid (except for CO) accounted for the highest proportion in the total structure of cephalopod products imported into Japan. In the first five months of 2020, imports of live/fresh squid into Japan soared by 162% to US$ 18.5 million.
Vietnam's cephalopod exports to the EU in the first 6 months of 2020 reached US$ 17.5 million, down 45.7% compared to the same period in 2019. Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands were the largest importers for cephalopod of Vietnam. As of June 2020, cephalopod exports to Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands shrunk by 51%, 28%, and 37%, respectively.
Cephalopod exports to the EU were still affected by the IUU yellow card. Besides, the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic caused restaurants to close resulting in a decline in the demand for squid and octopus consumption in the foodservice sector. Cephalopod exports to the EU in the last months of the year are expected to be positive as when the EVFTA Agreement takes effect from August 1, 2020, processed squid and octopus will enjoy a tax of 0%.
China was the fourth-largest importer of Vietnamese cephalopod, accounting for 7.4% of the total proportion. Cephalopod exports to China in June 2020 soared by 156% to over US$ 4 million. In the first 6 months, cephalopod exports to China reached US$ 17.8 million, up 54% over the same period in 2019. China was the market with the strongest growth rate of cephalopod imports from Vietnam in June and the first 6 months of 2020.
Vietnam's cephalopod exports to China fell in the first two months of 2020, then recovered again in the following month. Since March 2020, the Covid-19 epidemic in China has eased, other countries such as the United States, the EU, and Japan have gradually relaxed measures to quarantine and prevent the disease, therefore China's demand for cephalopod imports has recovered.
China imports mainly from Vietnam products such as frozen whole cuttlefish, frozen squid, frozen Tempura squid, dried squid, frozen cut octopus, frozen whole octopus ...
In the context the Covid-19 epidemic has not been controlled worldwide, the supply of raw materials has decreased. The demand for cephalopod imports of the world and the export of Vietnamese cephalopod is expected to remain to reduce.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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