The complicated situation of the Covid-19 in the import markets affects the consumption of seafood in the restaurant and food service segments; The exploitation of domestic raw materials was also significantly affected.
Marine fish exports (under HS codes from 0301 to 0305 and 1604, excluding tuna and pangasius) in the first 9 months of 2020 reached US$1.2 billion, up 21% over the same period in 2019. Japan, ASEAN, China were the three largest import markets for Vietnamese marine fish.
Exports of fish cakes and surimi (including products made from tuna, pangasius) of Vietnam in the first 9 months of this year reached over US$228.7 million, down 6% compared to the same period in 2019. ASEAN, China and Japan were the three largest import markets for this item of Vietnam. Exports to China lifted by 25% while exports to ASEAN and Japan declined by 6% and 22% respectively.
Export of crabs and other crustaceans (HS codes 03 and 16) of Vietnam in the first 9 months of this year reached US$126.9 million, up nearly 26% over the same period in 2019. China, Japan and the US were the three largest import markets for crab and other crustaceans of Vietnam. Export of this item to China grew at the best rate of nearly 365%; Exports to Japan and the US sank by 5% and 26% respectively.
Export of bivalve mollusks in the first 9 months of this year elevated by 4% to nearly 71.5 million USD, this item tended to increase after declining continuously in the first 2 quarters of the year. The EU, Japan and the US were the three largest import markets for this item of Vietnam. Exports of this item to Japan surged the best at 14%, exports to the EU rose by 1% and exports to the US declined by 3% over the same period in 2019.
There are positive signs such as market demand inching up for canned, frozen, chilled and smoked seafood with longer shelf life. E-transactions, online retailing still compensate for the decline in market demand. The EVFTA Agreement has come into effect, also supporting other Vietnam's seafood exports in the last months of the year. Therefore, Vietnam's seafood exports in the last months of the year are expected to increase slightly, although still affected by the Covid-19 epidemic in major importers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK have shown positive signs in the first months of 2026. While the UK’s overall tuna imports from the world declined, imports from Vietnam increased strongly, indicating that there is still room for Vietnam to expand its market share. However, behind this growth, competitive pressure remains intense, especially as the UK continues to be a major market for established suppliers such as Ecuador, Mauritius, and Ghana.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Biofloc technology is being piloted in several rice–shrimp farming models in Ca Mau Province, showing initial positive results in controlling pond environments, improving shrimp seed quality, and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Alongside the development of high-tech shrimp farming, Ha Tinh Province is accelerating the cultivation of high-value freshwater aquatic species, with red tilapia emerging as an effective and sustainable farming model.
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