The average price for seafood products rose 4.79 percent year-on-year to CNY 40.46 (USD 6.48, EUR 4.69) per kg while dropping 3.38 percent compared to February prices. Average prices for freshwater products meanwhile averaged CNY 15.06 (USD 2.41, EUR 1.75) per kg, up 4.16 percent year-on-year but down 0.7 percent month-on-month. The ministry’s survey of 47 comparable seafood items, output at 649,000 metric tons in March was up 4.16 percent year-on-year while turnover of seafood producers totaled CNY 14.02 billion (USD 2.25 billion, EUR 1.63 billion), up 12.03 percent year-on-year.
There was good news for cultivators and vendors of crustaceans: average prices for seawater crustaceans rose 1.15 percent compared to last year with prices for freshwater crustaceans up 2.25 percent on last year — a sign that demand remains strong for domestic freshwater crabs, a heavily promoted local product category.
Among the 49 products surveyed for prices only 15 of them (accounting for 30 percent of overall production) saw a price rise in March, among them mantis shrimp which rose 6.46 percent to CNY 63.1 (USD 10.11, EUR 7.32) per kg as well as steelhead fish, up 5.8 percent up CNY 35.91 (USD 5.75, EUR 4.16) per kg and freshwater crab, up 3.56 percent to CNY 125.18 (USD 20.06, EUR 14.52) per kg.
The bulk of products surveyed (45 percent of overall output) saw a price decline, with a month on month drop of 13.4 percent for yellow croaker (average CNY 66.35 (USD 10.62, EUR 7.69) per kg) and hairtail (down 9.9 percent to an average CNY 25.90 (USD 4.14, EUR 3) per kg) and pomfret (down 9.8 percent to CNY 100.67 (USD 16.12, EUR 11.66) per kg).
Much has been made of China’s GDP growth slowing, with a first quarter growth figure of 7.4 percent falling slightly below the Chinese government’s full-year target of 7.5 percent, itself a reduction on last year’s target of 8 percent. A sign of possible long-term source of weaker demand for high end seafood: China’s restaurant industry grew 9 percent, to CNY 2.56 trillion (USD 411 billion, EUR 298 million), last year, its slowest growth in more than two decades, according to data newly released by the China Cuisine Association.
“This is a sign that the central government’s antigraft campaign against waste and extravagance has been well implemented,” Feng Enyuan, deputy chairman of the CCA told local media. Midrange and high-end restaurants have been particularly hard hit, according to Feng. President Xi Jinping has pursued a campaign to reduce the so-called three “public consumptions” indulged in by China’s civil servants: overseas work trips, government-use of vehicles and official receptions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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