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) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, tuna exports in the first month of 2026 reached over USD 75 million, up 13% compared to the same period in 2025. Notably, exports increased in most key markets such as Japan, the EU, and Russia, while exports to the United States fell by 6%—a contrasting development amid ongoing adjustments in U.S. import tariff policies and new compliance requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which took effect at the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded strong growth, reaching USD 15 million, up 109% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, in the first three months of 2026, export value reached USD 38 million, an increase of 174% year-on-year. This result highlights the sector’s robust expansion and reflects rapid growth across multiple markets.
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