In 2022, Vietnam’s seafood exports to China reached 1.6 billion USD, up 66% - reaching a record sales and record growth, after decreasing to 990 million USD in 2021 due to restrictions caused by the Covid pandemic.
In 2023, seafood exports to China also encountered the same trend as other markets: falling prices, high inventory, so in the first 9 months of the year seafood export value to this market decreased by 18%, reaching 1 billion USD.
The products with the highest proportion include pangasius (40%) and shrimp (38%), sales of both to China have reduced, in which shrimp decreased by 8%, and pangasius decreased by 27%.
Other marine products exported to China also saw a sharp decline in sales, in which cephalopod decreased by 10%, crabs decreased by 82%, and other fish remained at the same level as the same period in 2022.
However, if considering each aquatic species individually, in 2023, there are many species showing positive signs with rapid growth: such as whiteleg shrimp, black tiger shrimp, sea shrimp (krill), largehead hairtail, yellowstripe scad, mackerel, horsehead fish, mackerel scad, purple-spotted bigeye fish, octopus, clams...
And there are a few species whose sales have decreased, including: pangasius, lobster, squid, crab, crawfish, fish cakes, surimi...
The localities that import the most Vietnam’s seafood are Guangdong, Zhanjiang, Guangxi, Fujian, Shanghai...
China is increasingly dependent on imported seafood
Many Vietnamese businesses have identified that the Chinese market has been and will continue to be a potential destination for Vietnam’s seafood if the business community grasp the needs, demands and opportunities from the market.
In 2023 and the coming years, there are a number of favorable factors, bringing opportunities and fiscal space for Vietnam’s seafood in China: The Covid epidemic has ended, China's trade with the world is completely normal; China's economy has positive signs, seafood demand is recovering: e.g. pangasius, black tiger shrimp, whiteleg shrimp, cephalopod; favorable geographical position for Vietnamese exporters to China, decreasing logistics costs and less than other countries; China stops importing seafood from Japan and will replace it with other sources of supply, including Vietnam...
Some shifts in China’s economic investment are also considered opportunities for Vietnam’s seafood. The super-profitable and highly profitable economic sectors are receiving more attention, so, investment in aquaculture has decreased, and this country's seafood exports have also gradually decreased in recent years, due to Covid factors and economic transition trends. Therefore, economic experts said that China will increasingly depend on imported seafood, like Western countries.
Geopolitical fluctuations, inflation, energy crisis... cause seafood consumption demand in large countries like the US, EU, Japan to decline sharply, while China's imports are increasing.
If the conflict in the Middle East escalates, fuel costs will increase again and the energy crisis will continue along with inflation and high interest rates, exports to the US and EU markets in 2024 – 2025 are forecasted to be more difficult, and China will be the target market of many seafood exporters.
Conquering the Chinese market: needs more efforts
However, to take advantage of the opportunities from the China market and the potential of Vietnam's seafood industry, B2B trade activities need to be strengthened, in which local-level trade needs more attention; there should be exchange of information about market needs and regulations, especially when there are changes in import-export policies; Expanding the list of businesses and aquatic products allowed to export to China, opening doors to fresh aquatic species to be exported to China; Cooperating to accelerate licensing approval processes for exporting enterprises to China: Maintain smooth customs clearance at border gates; Enhance road and rail traffic connections in border areas; Cooperate in building cold storages and logistics facilities to serve Vietnam-China agricultural and aquatic trade, especially cross-border trade.
(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.
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