Therefore, Vietnam’s seafood trade with the US is minimally impacted by political fluctuations, such as the US presidential election results, even though the election outcomes can cause disruptions in global trade. However, if Donald Trump is re-elected, his specific trade policies could present both opportunities and challenges for Vietnamese seafood exports in the coming period.
In the U.S.-China trade conflict, there could be major shifts in U.S. supply chains and imports. The U.S. may reduce its seafood imports from China and look for other suppliers, including Vietnam.
Vietnam’s main seafood exports to the U.S. are shrimp and pangasius, and higher U.S. tariffs on Chinese seafood could create big chances for Vietnamese shrimp and pangasius to replace Chinese products. This change would boost Vietnam’s seafood exports to the U.S. market. Additionally, if China reduces seafood imports from the U.S., it might start importing more seafood from Vietnam instead.
As the trade war intensifies, global supply chains may be disrupted, creating an opportunity for Vietnam to become a reliable alternative supplier for countries seeking to avoid high U.S. tariffs, especially for seafood products. Thus, Vietnam could be chosen as a substitute supplier in the global supply chain.
However, to fully seize these opportunities, Vietnamese seafood businesses need to maintain high product quality, increase value-added processing, and leverage free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand their market reach and enhance their competitiveness.
While Vietnam may benefit from some opportunities arising from the U.S.-China trade war, Vietnamese seafood businesses also face U.S. trade defense measures. These may include anti-dumping duties, countervailing duties, and strict product quality requirements.
Even though anti-dumping duties on shrimp and pangasius and countervailing duties on Vietnamese shrimp exported to the U.S. are expected to be more favorable in 2024, businesses still need to be cautious and strategic when exporting to this market. The U.S. government, especially under Trump, strengthened protective measures related to food safety and quality standards. This could make it challenging for Vietnamese seafood exporters to meet stricter food safety requirements, leading to higher production and inspection costs.
Additionally, U.S. protectionist policies and tariff barriers could increase competition for Vietnam from other major seafood-exporting countries like India, Ecuador, and Indonesia, which are strong competitors in the seafood industry.
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By the end of October 2024, Vietnam's seafood exports to the U.S. reached $1.5 billion, a 15% increase compared to the same period last year. It is estimated that for the full year 2024, seafood exports to the U.S. will bring in $1.85 billion, a 19% increase over 2023. |
To enhance seafood exports to the U.S. in a changing trade environment, Vietnamese seafood companies need to be proactive and flexible in adapting to market shifts.
Seafood exports must fully meet U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) rules, including hygiene, food safety, and disease prevention standards. Companies should also maintain sustainable production and strict quality control from farming to processing to meet the growing standards of the U.S. market.
American consumers are increasingly interested in sustainability, environmental protection, and social responsibility. To meet these expectations, Vietnamese seafood companies should adopt sustainable farming practices, like eco-friendly shrimp farming, and follow international standards (GlobalGAP, ASC, MSC) to enhance their reputation and meet the rising expectations of the market.
Businesses should provide transparent information on production processes, raw material origins, and quality standards. This will help build trust with U.S. consumers and partners and meet the needs of distributors, supermarkets, and major retail chains in the U.S.
Vietnamese seafood companies need to boost their competitiveness, develop effective production and business strategies, and offer products at reasonable and transparent prices. At the same time, companies should have rapid response plans for changes in U.S. tariffs and trade measures.
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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