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) 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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