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) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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