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) 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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