In the structure of exported cephalopod products, squid accounted for 54.6% and octopus accounted for 45.4%. In the first quarter of this year, the export value of squid increased by 40% while octopus increased by 29% compared to the same period in 2021. Import demand for processed cephalopod products tended to increase strongly.
Export value of squid products all increased; in which, dried/grilled squids and fresh/frozen squids increased by 33% and 38% respectively. Notably, the export value of processed squid recorded the strongest increase of 99% compared to the same period last year.
The top 5 largest cephalopod import markets include South Korea, Japan, China & Hongkong, Thailand, the EU, the US, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Israel, accounting for 98.4% of the total export value of Vietnam’s cephalopod.
In the above major markets in QI/2022, exports to China & Hongkong experienced the highest growth of 143%. Exports to Japan increased by 50%, exports to South Korea and to the EU increased by 16% and 47% respectively. However, exports to Thailand fell slightly by 0.4%.
South Korea is the largest import market of Vietnam's cephalopod, accounting for 35% of the total export value. In QI/2022, cephalopod exports to this market reached over 55 million USD, up 16%. In the structure of cephalopod products exported to South Korea, the export value of processed squid recorded the strongest increase of 123%, but processed octopus exports decreased by 7%.
According to the data of the International Trade Center (ITC), in the first two months of this year, South Korea's cephalopod imports reached 127 million USD, a decrease of 12% over the same period last year. Vietnam is South Korea’s second largest supplier of cephalopod, after China.
Japan ranked second in importing cephalopod from Vietnam, accounting for 23% of the total export value. In the first quarter of this year, cephalopod exports to Japan reached 36 million USD, up 50% over the same period last year. In the structure of cephalopod products exported to Japan, the export value of processed octopus increased the most by 151%. However, the exports of dried/grilled squids decreased by 97%.
In the next quarter, cephalopod exports are expected to maintain the growth momentum. However, the lack of raw materials and fishing activities affected by high gasoline prices are still the challenges that businesses have to face in the coming time.
Compiled by Phuong Linh
(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.
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