The FAO fish index, calculated separately, is moving in the opposite direction. After reaching its highest level in August 2011, the index has steadily fallen. The decline is the largest for salmon and shrimp whereas both tuna and the small pelagic category are higher today than last year. The explanation lies partly in the fact that capture fisheries are able to respond more quickly to demand changes whereas aquaculture, like agriculture, is bound by production decisions taken the previous season.
Because of this surge in aquaculture volumes, the FAO expects seafood export volumes to increase again in 2012, despite a fall in demand in some key markets.
According to the FAO, countries such as the US and Canada, China, Japan, Thailand, Australia and Brazil all saw the value of imports grow during the first six months of the year. Other markets, including Spain, France, Germany and Russia, registered a decline in imports as domestic consumer spending weakened.
Production has held up to some extent. Supply from many wild stocks is growing again as a result of more effective fisheries management and enforcement. This includes some pelagic catches in the Northern hemisphere and several groundfish stocks. At the same time, small pelagic catches in South America are drastically down because of lower quotas this year. There is also some indication that another El Niño may arrive at the end of 2012, or early 2013, resulting in a strong decline in small pelagic catches
The FAO sees problems continuing for aquaculture producers, as higher feed costs will occur at the same time that prices continue to fall. Their outlook for the year is uncertain.
‘Domestic demand in many markets is still strong, boosting local aquaculture production. International markets will weaken over the next quarter with a higher impact. Rising prices on a number of other protein sources including grain will cause food prices in general to increase. Feed prices generally are also expected to end higher. This will create additional problems for many producers in the aquaculture sector, leading to restructuring in a number of countries with larger and more integrated companies as a result.’
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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