Japanese custom holds that eating the nutritious fish in the dog days of summer can help people weather the intense heat, and July 27 was chosen as a special day to publicize it.
Japan relies on imports for 70 to 80 percent of the eels it consumes. Of the 73,800 tons of domestically consumed eels in 2010, 53,100 tons were imported, mainly from China and Taiwan, according to the Fisheries Agency. Japan has also started importing eels from France, Indonesia, Ireland, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the U.S. and Vietnam.
While eels from the Southern Hemisphere account for a small fraction of Japan's total imports, the prices are reasonable and could prove to be a boon for Japanese consumers.
"I've found that eels are raised in Africa through some research," said an official with a trading house in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, a city known for its eel-farming industry.
In late June the company imported a sample shipment of about 150 kg of farmed eels from Madagascar, which raises the fish for European consumers.
The firm, which deals mainly in machine parts, decided to buy the eels at the request of local food processors who have been badly hurt by soaring prices.
Madagascar eels differ from the kind commonly eaten in Japan but have received good reviews from Japanese dealers who say they taste like domestically grown eels after being grilled.
The trading firm plans to import about a ton of Madagascar eels a week starting in late August. The price will likely be about 40 percent lower than that of Japanese eels.
Ebisen, a Hamamatsu-based seafood wholesaler, has been buying naturally grown eels from Tasmania for the past several years as eels from other areas have become more expensive.
"Meaty eels (from Tasmania) taste good whether they're grilled or fried," said the company's director, Naoya Kamo.
While the prices of young Chinese and Taiwanese eels have been on the rise in recent years due to poor catches, Takashi Moriyama, chief of the Japanese eel import cooperative, said it is still questionable whether eels from more distant countries suit the Japanese palate.
"Since only small amounts of them are sold in Japan, (their low prices) have yet to provide a welcome relief (for consumers)," Moriyama said. "But it's a good thing they can be offered to consumers at low prices."
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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