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) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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