Seafood exporters have fresh opportunities to gain greater access to high-value markets, after negotiations concluded with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) on a free trade agreement (FTA) that would help Việt Nam diversify exports amid rising global trade uncertainties.
The FTA would increase access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the Southeast Asian country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value, the association said.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that the trade deal, which covers Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, came as seafood exporters face growing protectionism and increasingly stringent food safety and sustainability requirements in major markets.
According to the association, Vietnamese exporters should not compete on price but focus on higher-value products such as processed shrimp, premium frozen shrimp, pangasius fillets and portioned cuts, processed pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, crab, shellfish and ready-to-cook seafood products for retail chains.
VASEP urged exporters to fully comply with origin requirements, certification procedures, food safety regulations and technical standards to be able to benefit from the preferential tariffs under the trade deal.
Early preparations in quality control, sustainability certification, traceability systems, compliance with rules of origin and packaging, as well as closer relationships with retailers, importers and food service distributors in Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, are needed for exporters to be able to seize opportunities from the trade deal.
Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are members of the European Economic Area and closely aligned with EU standards, while Switzerland maintains similarly strict requirements on food safety, traceability, environmental protection, labour practices and corporate social responsibility.
To expand market share in EFTA countries, Vietnamese seafood companies will need to strengthen standards across the entire supply chain, from aquaculture and fishing vessels to processing plants, cold storage, packaging and sustainability certification.
Over the longer term, VASEP said EFTA could become a valuable niche market, helping Việt Nam raise both the value and sustainability of its seafood exports while strengthening its position in global seafood supply chains.
Beyond trade, the FTA could strengthen cooperation in technology and investment as Norway and Iceland are recognised for their expertise in marine aquaculture, fisheries management, cold-chain technology, seafood processing and logistics.
VASEP said the agreement could create opportunities for cooperation in technology transfer, raw material supply, investment, supply chain management and product development.
At the same time, lower tariffs were expected to make seafood imports from EFTA countries, particularly Norwegian and Icelandic salmon, mackerel, cod, whitefish and frozen seafood products, more competitive in the Vietnamese market.
This would increase competition in premium retail and also encourage domestic producers to improve product quality, invest in value-added processing, strengthen branding and modernise distribution systems, the association said.
Although seafood exports to the EFTA bloc remain modest, recent growth suggests untapped potential.
In 2025, seafood exports to Switzerland rose by 15 per cent year-on-year to US$34.1 million, while shipments to Norway nearly doubled, increasing 95 per cent to $18.5 million.
In the first five months of 2026, exports to Switzerland fell by 15 per cent from a year earlier to $13.4 million, equivalent to around 0.3 per cent of the country's total seafood exports. Shipments to Norway, however, climbed 36.7 per cent to $7 million over the same period, with May exports alone rising by 11.5 per cent year-on-year to $1.64 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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