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) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
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