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) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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