Market issues such as large inventory, low demand, and falling prices have strongly affected the shrimp and pangasius industries, especially in key markets such as the US and EU.
Therefore, pangasius exports fell the most in the first 6 months, followed by shrimp. The seafood industry continues to face a shortage of raw materials, high input costs, and most importantly, the IUU yellow card is making the procedures for certifying wild- caught seafood products to go to the EU market more difficult in 2023.
Seafood exports, including to the once-promising Chinese market, have sharply declined. Persistently sluggish post-Covid economies, ongoing wars, and inflation have cast a shadow on recovery, maintaining their hold on food consumption trends, including seafood.
In this difficult situation, many seafood enterprises have adjusted their product structures and strategies
In this difficult situation, many seafood enterprises have adjusted their product structures and strategies. Therefore, although many enterprises experienced a decrease in sales compared to the same period last year, there were still enterprises that achieved positive growth in export turnover in the first half of this year thanks to maintaining labor, utilizing capacity, focusing on value-added goods and processing for export. These enterprises will be the driving force to recover export sales for the industry in the second half of 2023.
Can Vietnam seafood exports reach the expected target of US$10 billion in 2023? By the end of July, seafood exports had only earned nearly US$5 billion. Can it break through in the last 5 months of the year?
To gain deeper insights into product structure and export markets, the business situation of seafood enterprises in recent years, assess the resilience of consumption markets, the competitiveness of Vietnam's seafood products in 2023, opportunities and challenges in the coming time; we extend an invitation to businesses and readers to register for the Q2/2022 Report on Vietnam's Seafood Exports.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
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