"The record trade figures reflect the strong growth in aquaculture output and the high prices for a number of species such as salmon and shrimp," said Audun Lem, chief of FAO's Products, Trade and Marketing Branch. "This is underpinned by firm underlying demand for fish products from world markets."
"The percentage of fish production that is traded internationally is significant, around 37 per cent in 2013," added Lem. "This makes the fisheries sector one of the most globalized and dynamic industries in world food production."
According to FAO, developing countries continue to play an important role in supplying global markets, accounting for 61 per cent of total fish exports and 54 per cent of the value in 2012. Their net export earnings (exports minus imports) totalled USD 35.3 billion, figure that is higher than that of other agricultural products combined including rice, meat, milk, sugar and bananas.
But the UN agency stresses that the benefits of international trade does not always reach the hands of small-scale fishing communities, however artisanal fishermen and farmers constitute about 90 per cent of the workforce in the sector.
Therefore, FAO urges countries to help small-scale fishers and workers in the fisheries sector, about half of whom are women, to overcome a series of obstacles to access to markets, including the lack of bargaining power and access to credit and inadequate market infrastructure.
“There are exciting opportunities in regional markets at the moment as emerging economies, such as Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia want more fish and are looking to their neighbours to supply it," pointed out Lem. "At the same time, this growing demand is stimulating new investments in local aquaculture production, including in Africa."
FAO says countries need to provide small farmers with access to finance, insurance and information about markets, investing in infrastructure, strengthening producer organizations and small-scale traders, and ensuring that national policies do not overlook or weaken this sector.
He further noted that the growing number of fish that is processed for export brings about an increase in the quantity of byproducts -like heads, viscera and bones, which can also become valuable products for human consumption.
“New markets for by-products are already opening up, he said, noting growing demand for fish heads in some Asian and African markets, while there is also potential to use fish heads and bones to meet the rising global demand for fish oil and mineral supplements," Lem explained.
(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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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