The U.S. Continues to Dominate Vietnam’s Crab Exports
In the global crab import landscape, the U.S. is the leading market. It is currently the world’s largest crab importer, particularly for frozen crab products, with import value reaching nearly USD 1.1 billion—far ahead of other markets such as Japan, China, and South Korea.
For blue swimming crab products specifically, the U.S. remains a key destination, significantly influencing global demand, with supply mainly coming from Asian countries, including Vietnam.
However, exports to the U.S. faced numerous challenges over the past year. In August 2025, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the 2025 comparability findings under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) in the Federal Register. According to NOAA, “comparability determinations” may lead to import restrictions on products from fisheries or fishing gear that do not meet U.S. marine mammal protection standards. This poses a major uncertainty heading into 2026.
Currently, the import ban on crab products from Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka has been temporarily suspended until NOAA/NMFS completes its review of the comparability findings—i.e., assessments of whether exporting countries provide marine mammal protections equivalent to those of the U.S. However, the final outcome will depend on the quality and completeness of the information submitted by Vietnam to NOAA/NMFS.
EU and CPTPP – New Bright Spots for Vietnamese Crab
While the U.S. remains the key market in terms of scale, the EU stands out in terms of growth rate. In 2025, crab exports to the EU reached over USD 3 million, up 102%. Within the bloc, France was the largest importer, with more than USD 3 million, up 112% (ranking second among Vietnam’s crab export markets, after the U.S.).
Alongside the EU, CPTPP member countries also recorded positive growth of nearly 29%. This presents important room for Vietnamese enterprises to promote processed and value-added products, leverage tariff preferences, and tap into consumer trends favoring products with clear traceability.
In contrast, crab exports to China and Hong Kong dropped sharply by 48%, to just under USD 3 million. Some other markets, such as Japan and Canada, also declined or fluctuated, reflecting intensified competition and shifting demand across distribution channels.
Rising Global Demand Amid Fluctuating Wild Supply
Global demand for crab continued to rise in 2025, supported by consumer preference for high-value seafood. However, supply mainly depends on wild capture fisheries and is therefore more volatile, unlike shrimp, which largely relies on aquaculture. This dynamic often creates unpredictable cycles of pricing, raw material availability, and delivery schedules, requiring businesses to proactively manage sourcing plans and contracts.
Outlook for 2026
Compliance with MMPA requirements is currently creating procedural challenges for exporters, limiting not only crab exports but potentially affecting other seafood sectors as well. In addition, the heavy dependence on the U.S. market makes Vietnam’s crab exports particularly vulnerable to policy changes.
Looking ahead, if MMPA-related requirements are tightened or procedural disruptions occur, exports to the U.S. may fluctuate significantly, forcing businesses to pivot more rapidly toward the EU, CPTPP markets, and other destinations. The upward trend in global crab consumption seen in 2025 is expected to continue into 2026.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
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