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) The “Moringa Noodles Salad” product by Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation was honored as one of the “Top 10 Winning Products” at the THAIFEX – Anuga taste Innovation Show 2026, held as part of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
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