Last year, Vietnam's seafood exports reached 11 billion USD for the first time. Increasing exports has brought export turnover to mark a new milestone. The Mekong Delta region has contributed greatly to the overall seafood export turnover. However, at present, shrimp and pangasius exports in this region are more difficult than the same period last year.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in January, pangasius exports continued to decline sharply compared to the same period in 2021. In particular, the value of pangasius exports to the US market in January 2023 decreased by nearly 40% compared to December 2022.
Shrimp exports are forecast to prosper in March
Ca Mau is the leading locality in the country in terms of shrimp exports
Ca Mau is the leading locality in the country in terms of shrimp exports. In the last 3 years, Ca Mau's shrimp exports have always reached more than 1 billion USD. Particularly in 2022, exports reached nearly 1.1 billion USD. The beginning of the year is always the quietest time of the year for shrimp exporters in Ca Mau. The reason comes from the fact that foreign partners often actively import goods around September - November every year to prepare for the holidays, New Year's Eve as well as the first months of the year.
In fact, Ca Mau's shrimp export situation at the beginning of 2023 is more quiet compared to the same period of previous years. The local shrimp export turnover in January was just over $56 million, down more than 18% over the same period. Recently, the demand for goods in the world market in general is still slow due to the economic recession. Inflation in Ca Mau's big shrimp export markets such as the US and EU are quite high, affecting seafood exports. In particular, high-value products such as Ca Mau's shrimp are more affected.
Ca Mau's shrimp exports will still face difficulties until the end of February and start to recover from March. Shrimp exports are difficult because of high inventory and inflation in the world, which affected the European market the most. Raw shrimp is currently abundant, the supply of raw materials is very diverse. By the second quarter of 2023, the export situation will have some breakthrough.
The price of raw pangasius is on the rise
Since the beginning of the year, the opening of the Chinese market has created favorable conditions for Vietnam's pangasius exporters.
Information from VASEP also shows that, although pangasius exports in 2022 grew strongly, exports in the fourth quarter decreased compared to the same period in 2021 due to the influence of global inflation. Regardless of that trend, pangasius exports still have many prospects for the market this year, especially after the Chinese Zero Covid policy was removed. This move will create more favorable conditions for the export of Vietnamese agricultural, forestry and fishery products to this market, including pangasius, the most popular Vietnamese seafood in the Chinese market.
Although in the first month of 2023, pangasius exports decreased, many pangasius enterprises carrying out new export orders showed optimistic signals on the recovery of orders from markets. Mr. Do Lap Nghiep, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Deputy General Director of NAVICO, said that in the first months of the year, the company's pangasius exports still increased by 20%.
Since the beginning of the year, the opening of the Chinese market has created favorable conditions for Vietnam's pangasius exporters. The price of raw pangasius at the beginning of the year was 28,000 VND/kg, now it has increased to 30,000 - 31,000 VND/kg. Enterprises are focusing on preparing raw material to meet market requirements, expanding export markets and ensuring product quality.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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