The southeasterly province of Shandong in January shipped 236,000 metric tons (MT) of seafood worth USD 760 million (EUR 555.7 million) — an increase of 6.2 percent and 12.3 percent respectively.
The strongest growth however was recorded for shipments to the EU and U.S., with 18,000 MT worth USD 81.4 million (EUR 59.5 million) shipped to the latter according to data provided by the provincial Ocean & Fisheries Bureau. That’s a year-on-year growth of 52.7 percent and 32 percent, respectively. The EU meanwhile bought 35,000 MT worth USD 120 million (EUR 87.8 million), up 49.7 percent and 39.2 percent, respectively.
Other key markets performed well, but not as strongly as the two key western blocs. Japan bought 39,000 MT of Shandong seafood in January, paying USD 210 million (EUR 153.6 million), up 10.7 percent and 4.6 percent respectively year-on-year. Korea accounted for 13,000 MT (USD 46.6 million, EUR 34 million), a rise of 17.3 percent and 16.9 percent, respectively, year-on-year.
China’s state-run media has made much this month of a recovery in western markets as a driver of demand for China’s overall exports. But a worrying note of caution for the seafood sector was sounded by a leading trade official who warned the sector needs to improve quality in order to combat rising competition from Southeast Asia producers in particular.
China has to improve “oversight mechanisms and testing” of seafood production and clamp down on residues in seafood products, according to Xiao Wei, head of research at the China International Trade Research Centre in Beijing. He warns that western markets will increasingly use quality concerns “as a reason to block” Chinese imports. But he also warns that the increasing similarity in composition of exports from China and Southeast Asia peers like Thailand and Vietnam means China has to raise standards to compete.
Data published by food safety and inspection authorities in some of China’s leading seafood producing regions suggests all is well. The provincial authorities in both Shandong and Zhejiang provinces have claimed a 100 percent and a 99.4 percent pass rate respectively in the latest publication of seafood product testing results.
Praising the safety of his province’s seafood products, Shuyang Yue, deputy director of Zhejiang’s Ocean & Fisheries Bureau said while the province had problems with “serious” water pollution it had also changed and prolonged the “production cycles of aquaculture” in order to reduce the average monthly amount of excrement produced by the aquaculture sector.
Illustrative perhaps of the gap between official pronouncements and reality — and the challenges facing food safety enforcers in China — is a recent court case in the huge southwesterly city of Chengdu where a seafood wholesaler was jailed for eight months for using banned chemicals to fresh his produce. Dai Ting Fu used hydrogen peroxide and sodium peroxide since 2006 to freshen the smell and appearance of squid and other products sold to local restaurants in the district of Qionglai. Dai told the court he was introduced to the chemicals by a seafood supplier, according to a report of the case published in the Chengdu Business Daily.
(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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