Integration – Penetration – Assimilation
Stronger integration, deeper penetration and more assimilation are three phrases to evaluate the effectiveness of FTAs in general and the CPTPP agreement in particular for Vietnam seafood industry.
After 5 years, with seafood export turnover increasing from 2.2 billion USD to 2.9 billion USD in 2022, reaching 2.4 billion USD in 2023, CPTPP is the market group with the second strongest growth rate, after China. In 2018, CPTPP accounted for 25% of Vietnam's seafood exports, by 2023, it accounted for nearly 27%.
The clear changes in seafood exports 5 years after the CPTPP agreement took effect are:
First, in terms of exports, the increase rates in exports to CPTPP countries is stronger than other markets. In particular, Canada, Chile, Peru, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia...
- Vietnamese seafood’s market share in these markets went up, showing increased competitive strength thanks to the CPTPP agreement.
For example, in Canada: market share increased from 7-8% to 10%, of which shrimp alone increased from 18% to 25% and ranked first; tuna also increased from 6% to 11% and ranked third.
In Australia, Vietnam’s shrimp holds an overwhelming market share of 70%, nearly doubling from 32% before signing the agreement. These numbers reflect the significant increase in Vietnamese seafood exports to CPTPP markets since joining the agreement.
Second, there is a rise in seafood imports to Vietnam for processing and re-export, as well as for domestic consumption;
Integration is also shown through collaborative efforts to enhance the quality and efficiency of seafood processing for expor, thanks to investments and partnerships in technology, techniques, and applying scientific advancements in aquaculture, processing, and seafood export.
CPTPP expansion - more opportunities for the seafood industry
The UK signed an agreement to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) - a milestone that could lead to moremembers joining the agreement. These changes also create more opportunities for Vietnamese seafood to penetrate the market and integrate by diversifying raw material sources.
Currently, under the bilateral agreement between Vietnam and the UK, preferential import taxes on key Vietnamese seafood products to the UK are mostly zero. However, a few product codes such as processed shrimp HS code 160521 and 160529 are still subject to a 7% tax rate. Of course, these two Vietnamese product lines are both in the No. 1 position in the UK, dominating 36% of the market share, but the room for growth will be greater when Vietnamese shrimp is subject to CPTPP tariff preferences.
In addition, the opportunity to diversify raw material sources for processing exports within the bloc will increase. In addition, Vietnamese companies is also a partner for the UK in the processing of seafood products from the UK, such as cod.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As importing markets increasingly focus on biosecurity and traceability, Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework and disease management system for aquaculture, covering tilapia farming as well as other cultured species. This system is based on the Law on Animal Health, regulations on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases, the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Farmed Aquatic Species, and environmental monitoring and early warning programs for aquaculture areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Hai Phong's aquaculture sector is accelerating the adoption of high technologies in aquaculture to adapt to climate change, with red tilapia and tilapia identified as the key cultured species for priority development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion in June 2026, up 21.0% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2026 totaled nearly US$5.8 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared with the same period last year. Exports to China and Hong Kong continued to accelerate, while shipments to the United States rebounded strongly in June. In contrast, exports to the EU, Japan, and the Middle East remained sluggish or recorded slight declines.
(vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, driven not only by growing market opportunities but also by its ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety, and traceability. In practice, tilapia farming in Vietnam is not a spontaneous or loosely regulated activity; rather, it operates under a comprehensive legal and technical framework covering the entire value chain—from hatcheries and farming to processing and exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
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