In March 2025 alone, fishery output is estimated at 750.5 thousand tons, up 3.5% year-on-year. Fish accounted for 558.1 thousand tons (up 3.4%), shrimp 77.3 thousand tons (up 5.0%), and other products 115.1 thousand tons (up 2.7%).
Aquaculture continues to play a central role in the sector’s growth. In March, farmed fishery output was estimated at 421.4 thousand tons, up 5.3% year-on-year. This includes 306.4 thousand tons of fish (up 5.5%), 65.2 thousand tons of shrimp (up 5.7%), and 49.8 thousand tons of other species (up 3.3%).
For the first quarter as a whole, aquaculture production reached 1,113.6 thousand tons, marking a 5.1% increase over the same period last year. Several provinces posted impressive growth in aquaculture output: Khanh Hoa (up 13.4%), Phu Yen (12.4%), Bac Lieu (12.2%), Ninh Thuan (11.9%), Soc Trang (11.6%), Dong Thap (10.9%), and Long An (9.2%).
Notably, pangasius output increased as raw material prices rose and exports to major markets such as the U.S. and Europe expanded. In March alone, pangasius production was estimated at 155.8 thousand tons, up 4.5% year-on-year.
Whiteleg shrimp also saw a significant rise in output, reaching 42.8 thousand tons (up 6.8%), thanks to large-scale harvesting and the success of super-intensive farming models. Black tiger shrimp output reached 18.5 thousand tons, up 3.7%.
In the fishing sector, output in March 2025 was estimated at 329.1 thousand tons, up 1.2% year-on-year. This included 251.7 thousand tons of fish (up 1.0%), 12.1 thousand tons of shrimp (up 1.6%), and 65.3 thousand tons of other fishery products (up 2.2%). Marine capture accounted for the majority, with 314.8 thousand tons (up 1.4%).
Cumulatively for Q1/2025, capture fisheries output reached 879.8 thousand tons, a slight increase of 0.1% year-on-year. Fish output held steady at 673.6 thousand tons, shrimp rose slightly to 32.4 thousand tons (up 0.1%), and other products reached 173.8 thousand tons (up 0.8%).
Directions: Boosting domestic consumption and export
To meet growth targets, the fishery industry needs to further stimulate domestic consumption, particularly through modern distribution channels and e-commerce platforms. Trade promotion programs and supply-demand connection activities should be enhanced to expand the local market.
At the same time, exports remain a crucial pillar. The sector should take full advantage of signed trade agreements to expand its presence in major markets such as the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Removing trade barriers and supporting enterprises in meeting international standards will be key.
Additionally, facilitating access to finance, encouraging technological innovation, and improving the value-added of products are essential measures to increase competitiveness and drive export growth in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
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