"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) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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