The most imported and consumed fresh seafood species in China include: salmon, shrimp, flounder, bluefin tuna, eel, pomfret, mussels, oysters, jack fish, abalone, yellow croaker , sea cucumbers, clams... Among them, the largest proportion is salmon with nearly 56 thousand tons, accounting for 65%.
In addition, China also imported a significant amount of ornamental fish, with 281 thousand tons, an increase of 60%. In general, this market consumes more fresh/live fish than shrimp, crab and mollusks...
Leading among fresh/live seafood suppliers to China is Norway with its strength in fresh/chilled salmon. Chile ranks 2nd, and is also in the top 2 salmon suppliers to China. Other top suppliers include Myanmar, Australia, Philippines, Bangladesh, Faroes Islands, England, Japan...
Japan supplies flounder, bluefin tuna, mackerel, mackerel, plaice, jack fish, oysters, scallops, and fresh/live sea cucumbers to the Chinese market. China has officially banned Japanese seafood after Japan released radioactive water into the sea since the end of August. This has eliminated a significant portion of fresh/live seafood supply from Japan, so China will have to increase imports from other sources of supply. At the same time, after this event, China increasingly tightened inspection of the origin of imported seafood products.
Vietnam only accounts for a very modest market share, 0.2% of China's total fresh/live seafood import volume in the first 8 months of this year. However, compared to the same period in 2022, import volume from Vietnam increased dramatically by 446% and average price also increased by 184%. Vietnam's live aquatic species exported to China are mainly ornamental fish, grouper, lobster, tiger shrimp...
Shanghai, Guangdong, and Yunnan are the top 3 provinces that import the most fresh/live aquatic products, accounting for 39%, 16% and 11% of China's total import volume in the first 8 months of the year.
Except for the period of restriction due to the Covid epidemic, China has always been a large and potential seafood consumption market because of its large population and increasing per capita income. Per capita seafood consumption in China has increased tenfold in 40 years: from 5 kg in 1980 to 14.4 kg in 1993, 37.9 kg in 2013 and 54 kg in 2020. Seafood demand concentrated mainly in big cities, where on average people buy seafood 3-4 times/month, especially in Shanghai people buy seafood on average 11 times/month.
China's economic growth has reached a rate of 6.3% in the second quarter of 2023 and forecasts for GDP growth in 2023 and 2024 are quite optimistic, increasing by 5.1% and 4.6% respectively. Those indicators show that in the coming time, China will certainly be the target market of many seafood exporting countries, including Vietnam. Competition in this market will become increasingly hot, but with geographical advantage, Vietnamese seafood can gain a higher market share in the fresh/live/chilled seafood segment for domestic consumption in China. At the same time, it is also necessary to diversify processed products for the new consumption trends of modern youth in China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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