The Provincial Oceanic and Fishery Bureau of Liaoning province shows in January through February 2014 the province — which includes the key processing hub/port of Dalian — recorded a total international seafood trade of 243,200 metric tons (MT), worth USD 593 million (EUR 430 million), representing a year-on-year decrease of 15.3 percent and 3.7 percent respectively.
Exports totaled 113,100 MT in the first two months of the year, worth USD 417 million (EUR 302 million), down 3.7 percent and an increase of 2.8 percent. Imports of 130,000 MT worth USD 177 million (EUR 128.2 million) represented a decrease of 23.3 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively. While the data will be skewered somewhat by the Chinese New Year festival, which fell in early February, there appears to have been a fall-off in growth from new export markets which have been trumpeted by Chinese exporters and officials as an alternative to weak Western demand.
It’s clear that Liaoning — one of China’s top three seafood producing and exporting regions — has been diversifying its customer base: seafood exporters exported to 81 countries in the first two months of 2014, an increase of 13 countries. The bulk of the new markets were in Europe: 35 countries, an increase of six countries over last year with Germany and Poland ranking as two top markets in volume terms.
Growth in exports to Africa meanwhile appear to have slipped back: while Liaoning exports to nine countries — two more than the same period last year — export volumes amounted to 9,416 MT, valued at USD 5.8 million (EUR 4.2 million), a decrease of 44.9 percent year-on-year. Shipments to the top market, Nigeria, at 8,221 MT (USD 4.2 million, EUR 3 million) were down 47.7 percent year-on-year (49 percent in value). The drop appears consistent with news reports in the Chinese media this year of a shut-out of tilapia fillets and other low-end Chinese seafood imports by Nigeria due to that country’s eagerness to build up its own fisheries sector.
There was better news from the 14 countries in Latin America, which bought 16,000 MT, up 4 percent in volume terms and 30 percent in value terms to USD 53 million (EUR 38.4 million). China has favorable trade ties with several key economies in the region, including Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela. The Asian market (19 countries, three more than last year) provided the best growth for Liaoning’s exports in January and February, taking 48,900 MT for USD 175 million (EUR 126.8 million) up 14.3 percent and 12.2 percent, respectively year-on-year. This will no doubt have been helped by solid demand from Korea and Japan, which are also geographically close to Liaoning, while free trade access to Southeast Asia continues to help Chinese exporters.
At 20,900 MT worth USD 103 million (EUR 75 million) shipments to North America decreased by 5.5 percent and 6.1 percent year-on-year. Appearing to opt for cheaper products, buyers in Europe meanwhile accounted for 17,200 MT worth USD 66 million (EUR 47.8 million), a drop of 12 percent and 8.1 percent respectively.
Nationally, China’s seafood exports appeared to have softened in the first two months of the year, mirroring a weakening of the country’s overall exports sector. China shipped 550,000 MT of aquatic products worth USD 2.98 billion (EUR 2.2 billion), in January and February combined, down 7.9 percent and 9.1 percent respectively.
That’s according to data from the country’s customs authorities, which also reported that China’s overall exports tumbled in February by 18.1 percent year-on-year, after jumping 10.6 percent in January. Combined January-February exports were down 1.6 percent on the previous year having jumped 7.3 percent year-on-year in the same period in 2013.
Even while discounting for the Chinese New Year break in production, the country’s overall trade figures have been taken as evidence of further weakening of China’s economy, even as Chinese policy makers have talked up the positive effects of a recovery in western demand on China’s export industries such as processed seafood.
(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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