Potential for Vietnamese seafood
According to statistics, Vietnamese exports to Egypt reached more than US$282 million in the first nine months of this year, an increase of almost 71 percent from a year ago. Of this, seafood took first place with revenue of more than US$56 million accounting for 20 percent of total exports, and 100 percent of seafood export revenue in 2013. Fiber took second place with an export revenue of US$34.49 million, and pepper third place with US$32.33 million.
The major Vietnamese seafood exports to Egypt are Tra fish, shrimp, tinned tuna and fish fillets. Tra fish exports reached US$35.8 million in the first nine months of this year, accounting for 62 percent of total Vietnamese seafood exports to this market. Meanwhile, white-clawed shrimp netted almost US$16 million and 28 percent, and Black Tiger shrimp US$1.1 million.
According to the Vietnamese Trade Office in Egypt, with a population of 85 million, 90 percent of whom are Muslim, Egypts demand for seafood averages at about two million tonnes per year. But because domestic supply cannot meet demand, seafood has become one of Vietnams leading exports to Egypt.
To improve the reputation and quality of seafood exports to this market, the Vietnamese Trade Office in Egypt and the African, West and South Asian Markets Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade recommended that Vietnamese businesses ensure the stable quality of exports to meet Egyptian food safety standards, choose the best forms of delivery and payment to avoid pressure from the importers, and regulate dispute resolution in their export contracts.
Trade promotion activities for the Egyptian market
To boost trade promotion activities for the Egyptian market, the Ministry of Industry and Trade recently got together with the Cairo Chamber of Commerce and the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt to launch a workshop to present the market opportunities for Vietnamese agricultural products and seafood. Almost 30 Egyptian groups and trading companies attended the workshop and showed their desire to find reputable producers and exporters and to increase the import of Vietnamese agricultural products and seafood such as frozen fish fillets, pepper, cashew nuts, and rubber.
ALMEN Export Import Company General Director Ahmed Elsheikh said at the workshop that during the last 10 years his company has maintained very good relations with many suppliers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Vinh in Nghe An Province, with total import revenues of about US$3 million in rubber, black pepper and cashew nuts. ALMENs two offices in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi are currently working in a reputable and effective manner.
Arabian Home (AH) Company Chairman Ibrahim Mossalm is keen to find partners in Vietnam for the transfer of agricultural harvesting technology. AH currently imports various kinds of rice from Vietnam and intends to take part in the upcoming Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish) to present their new technologies.
During this workshop several Egyptian businesses proposed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade closely control the quality of agricultural export products, while taking domestic businesses to task over cases of trade fraudulence. They said this would be a practical way to refresh the business environment./.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
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