In term of structure of exported seafood products, despite making up a smaller proportion than shrimp and pangasius (two key export items), export value of tuna, marine finfish, crab, swimming crab and other crustacean plays an important role in boosting total seafood export value. Among Vietnam’s key exported seafood products, tuna is the only product that has positive export value.
In July 2012, tuna shipment gained US$57.3 million, up 126.8 percent from that of the same period of 2011, pushing export value in the first 7 months of this year to US$343.3 million, up 48.2 percent from Jan-Jul 2011. The U.S. is the leading importer of Vietnam tuna.
Global demand for consuming tuna will continue to rise in the coming time due to measures of tuna fishing restriction in some waters in the world. Therefore, demand for tuna is surpassing its supply. It is expected that export volume of Vietnam tuna in 2012 may increase twofold over 2011 due to rally in domestic tuna capture production and imported tuna volume for processing in Jan-Jul 2012 as well as the remaining months of 2012.
Seafood export value in July was down slightly over the same period of 2011 and this is the second month, seafood exports fell in the first 7 months of this year. Vietnam seafood exports to 5 main seafood importers in EU fell in this month. Seafood exports to these 5 markets rose in Feb alone, in the other months exports fell.
Thus, in Jan-Jul 2012, exports to EU (the second largest importer of Vietnam seafood) continued to weaken.Seafood export value to EU in Jul 2012 reached US$97.3 million, down 12.8 percent from July 2011. In Jan-Jul 2012, sales to the market reached US$652.9 million, down 12.7 percent.
With continuous growth in seafood imports from Vietnam, in Jan-Jul 2012, the U.S. outstripped EU to rank the top position in seafood imports from Vietnam. In July alone, seafood shipment to the U.S. reached US$115.8 million, up nearly 12 percent over July 2011. This helped year to date revenue from nationwide exports increase by 14 percent to US$690.7 million over the same period of 2011. However, the U.S. import growth rate was lower than that recorded over three recent years.
While tuna sales abroad was on uptrend, other two key items (shrimp and pangasius) saw deeper drop in exports. The decline was also seen in whiteleg shrimp export which always reported high growth rate.
In July, shrimp delivery attained US$200.4 million, showing a 6.8 percent year-on-year reduction, including US$67.8 million from whiteleg shrimp (down 6.9 percent).
This is the first time this species got drop during the first 7 months of 2012. Similarly, compared to July 2011, pangasius exports were down 9.9 percent to US$137.4 million, bringing year to date value of US$991.7 million, up only 1 percent. The fish saw consecutive stumble since early QII/2012. The trend is predicted to remain in following months.
Although Vietnam fishery industry failed to reach set export target in July and in the first 7 months of the year, the national seafood exports is expected to grow in the last two quarters of the year and complete the yearly target of US$6.5 billion.
(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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