Strong export growth with several breakthrough markets
Asian markets continue to serve as the backbone of the industry, with South Korea and Thailand leading the way, accounting for 25% and 23% of Vietnam’s total export value, respectively. Both markets recorded double-digit growth – 17% in South Korea and 24% in Thailand. Exports to countries under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) also showed positive signals, with double-digit growth rates. The China & Hong Kong market continued to expand, rising 45% to nearly USD 36 million. Notably, the European Union (EU) recorded a remarkable surge of 79%, thanks to the recovery of demand in Lithuania and Spain. Another striking highlight was the sharp increase in Malaysia, where export value in the first nine months jumped 44%, indicating that Southeast Asia is becoming a promising consumption hub for Vietnam’s surimi products.
Global surimi industry recovers and shifts toward value-added products
In 2025, global surimi prices have shown a stable recovery after hitting bottom at the end of 2023. The main driver is the rebound in demand, particularly for ready-to-eat and convenience products such as crab sticks, fish cakes, and seafood patties. Major producers in Thailand, China, and Vietnam are investing heavily in deep-processing lines to enhance product value and meet increasingly stringent standards from import markets. At the same time, traceability, sustainability certification, and food safety compliance have become mandatory requirements to maintain export competitiveness.
Outlook for late 2025–2026: Stable growth amid fierce competition
Analysts forecast that global surimi prices will remain stable or increase slightly by the end of 2025, supported by well-managed raw material sources and recovering consumption demand. Entering 2026, the market is expected to grow sustainably at a rate of 5–7% per year, with Asia remaining the center of demand, while Europe and the U.S. expand their high-value product segments. However, Vietnamese exporters will also face growing competition from regional suppliers, along with rising logistics costs and technical barriers.
Opportunities for Vietnamese exporters
In this context, Vietnamese exporters need to proactively develop raw material strategies, invest in value-added products, and diversify markets and distribution channels. Expanding to fast-growing markets such as Malaysia and the EU, as well as leveraging tariff advantages from CPTPP members, will be viable directions. The year 2025 opens a favorable period for Vietnam to assert its position in the global surimi supply chain—not only as a raw material supplier, but as a competitive and sustainable processing and exporting partner.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU maintained positive growth momentum in 2025, several new regulations related to animal welfare are transitioning from “ethical recommendations” to mandatory requirements, likely reshaping the shrimp supply chain for this market from 2026 onwards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $989.5 million in November 2025, up 64.6% year-on-year. The robust monthly performance played a pivotal role in driving the total export turnover for the first 11 months of 2025 to $10.5 billion, representing a 19% increase compared with the same period in 2024.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s crab exports reached USD 81 million in the first 11 months of 2025, with the United States accounting for more than 82% of total value. While newly imposed reciprocal tariffs and the enforcement of provisions under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) pose significant challenges for Vietnam, the European Union is emerging as a promising growth market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment has recently issued a plan to develop specialized crab raw material zones serving official export channels, covering a scale of around 50,000 hectares. This marks a significant shift in the sea crab industry towards professional production aligned with market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.comvn) According to the Tay Ninh Statistics Office, fisheries output in the province fell significantly in November 2025 due to the impact of storms and heavy rainfall, which delayed harvesting activities, particularly for pangasius.
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