Catch volume is low while the domestic market continues to show increasing demand for fishery products. Besides, higher fish quotas would place fishery resources at risk while not enhancing significantly seafood supply security for Australians.
Australia has to import a very large volume of seafood from different supplying sources in the world to meet the consumption. Imported seafood products make up 70 percent of national consumption. The seafood imports into the country have remained growth since 2011 and just saw a drop of 10 percent in 2008.
In 2012, Australia spent US$824.5 million to import seafood products (HS code 03), increasing 10.9 percent against the previous year. Vietnam ranked third among Australia’s suppliers with total value of US$121.7 million, after New Zealand (US$172.04 million) and China (US$160.9 million). Vietnamese exports of frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304) to this market valued at US$65.2 million.
Frozen hake fillets were 5,729 MT, representing the largest part in Australia’s total imports of frozen fish fillets in 2012.Frozen pangasius and catfish fillets from Vietnam, China, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar ranked the second with 5,560 MT.
In the first half of 2013, Australia sourced 3,191 MT of frozen hake fillets from 8 countries, up 26.8 percent from the same period of 2012. It also consumed 2,549 MT of frozen pangasius from Vietnam up 47.8 percent. Vietnamese pangasius products are accepted to appear in Australian fish outlets thank to high quality, food safety and goof flavour.
Australian economy has got the lowest growth over the recent two years, leading to cutting expenses for consumption. However, the country has stayed out of economic downturn over consecutive 22 years. With a population of 23 million of people and an average income of US$60,000 per person per year, Australia will still be a potential market for international seafood exporters in the coming time.
|
Australian imports of frozen pangasius and catfish fillets, kg, |
||||||
|
Origin |
Q.I/2012 |
Q.II/2012 |
Q.III/2012 |
Q.IV/2012 |
Q.I/2013 |
Q.II/2013 |
|
Vietnam |
728,143 |
1,022,756 |
1,313,328 |
1,809,715 |
1,026,972 |
1,522,070 |
|
Thailand |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9,700 |
10,400 |
20,120 |
|
Myanmar |
0 |
0 |
8,974 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
China |
0 |
0 |
17,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Singapore |
0 |
0 |
15,266 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Source: ITC |
||||||
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(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.
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