Yet a 260,000 metric ton limit per year on Alaska pollock imports remains, drawing continued concerns from Alaska pollock importers in the European Union, who will have to pay a 20 percent duty on any pollock imported above that limit.
“We don’t like these limits because these limits are uncertain," Guus Pastoor, president of the European association of fish processors and traders AIPCE-CEP, told IntraFish. "We don’t know if the limits will be reached, and then you don’t know if you are in or out. That’s why we say 'Why don’t we just keep the system as it is.'"
It is likely some pollock importers will be stuck paying a 7.5 to 20 percent duty. Over the last five years, the average volume of pollock imported into the European Union was 5,000 metric tons over the limit, at 265,000 metric tons. In 2008, the import volume reached 290,000 metric tons, a source in the industry told IntraFish.
Yet the new plan is of little concern to US Alaska pollock producers, the source said.
"Most people feel that the quota was set at such a high level that it's not really a concern," the source said, referring to the US pollock export industry.
Sentiments are different on the other side of the European Union border. As importers try to avoid getting stuck paying the duty, the new import quota could create a race for orders.
"In general, that's what this system leads to," Pastoor said. "That may be a nice thing for exporters, but on the other hand, it doesn't match the normal way the business goes...You would be forced to start buying in a speculative way just to try to make sure that you get a zero tariff."
AIPCE-CEP is working to convince member states to rethink the quota and hopes to meet with the commission to discuss it, he said. However, the commission may be past the stakeholder engagement period.
"The commission has consulted the stakeholders from November 2011 to May 2012," a spokesperson for the commission told IntraFish in an email. "Now, the proposal is in the council for the last round of discussions with the member states, and it is now the responsibility for the member states and the Commission to agree on a final proposal."
These plans are part of the EU's process of establishing autonomous tariff quotas (ATQ) for certain fish and fish products every three years. The quotas aim to help increase the supply of raw materials for the EU processing industry. Part of the goal of the current proposal is to keep supply at a consistent level.
European member states are expected to make a decision by the end of the year. If adopted, it would be in effect from January 2013 to December 2015.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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