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.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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