(vasep.com.vn) The local seafood
Malaysia Shrimp Industry Association president Syed Omar Syed Jaafar said domestic fishing vessels and aquaculture farms would need to invest to upgrade their facilities to enable them to comply with EU standards and obtain EU approval.
Following the lifting of almost one-year-old ban on Malaysian seafood to the EU in 2009, seafood that were caught only by EU-approved fishing vessels and raw materials supplied by EU-approved aquaculture farms were allowed to be exported to Europe.
Syed Omar said this involved high cost and those who were reluctant to upgrade would prefer to supply to seafood processing companies that exported to non-EU countries.
“For example, an average size aquaculture farm with about 20 prawn-breeding ponds requires at least RM1mil to RM2mil to upgrade to be compliant with EU standards, depending on the condition of the farms.
“A large fishing vessel requires about RM100,000 to upgrade, depending on the condition of the vessel. Banks are reluctant to lend money to aquaculture farm and fishing vessel owners without strong collateral, as banks regard such business to be of high risk,” he added.
The authorities are in the process of approving 14 more aquaculture farms in the country to supply to the EU market.
“Since there is limited supply of EU seafood raw materials, seafood processing companies are now adjusting their business to focus on exporting to Asian countries, particularly Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan,” he said.
Malaysian Frozen Food Processors' Association secretary Saw Hai Earn said the shortage of raw materials was still a major problem for seafood companies exporting to Europe.
At present, of the 1,000 aquaculture farms in Malaysia, only 16 are certified to supply to local seafood companies exporting to Europe.
“The alternative is to source the EU-approved raw materials from Indonesia, Thailand or Vietnam. But this is a costly solution as there are logistics and packaging costs which erode margins,” Saw said.
Texchem Resources Bhd chairman Tan Sri Fumihiko Konishi told StarBiz that Europe was a key market for the group previously but now it had to focus on Japan, China and the United States as there was a shortage of EU-approved fishing vessels in the country.
“This results in scarcity of seafood raw materials supply caught by EU-approved fishing vessels, making it difficult for us to source such supplies locally for export to Europe,” Konishi said.
Japan is expected to contribute to 50% of the seafood business of Texchem while China and the United States will generate 15% and 20% respectively. “The growth of China's seafood demand is faster,” he said.
Konishi said the group would not be able to achieve its targeted RM30mil worth of seafood export to China this year, as the catch in Malaysia and Myanmar had been bad. “The bulk of our seafood products to China comprise fishmeal, which had been affected by the poor catch,” he said.
“Over the next three months, the group will increase the export of processed hilsa fish from Myanmar and processed soft shell crabs to China to achieve the targeted export value of RM30mil to the China market in 2012.”
Golden Fresh senior commercial manager Rosy Ng said the company would focus on exporting to Australia, the United States and the Middle East.
“Australia is expected to generate some 50% of the company's revenue compared with about 40% prior to the EU ban on Malaysian seafood in 2008.
“We are still trying to get back our market share in Europe, which is expected to contribute about 20% to the company's revenue this year compared with about 30% before the EU ban in 2008,” she added.
Since July 2010, Golden Fresh had established sales offices in Britain and France, which had boost the contribution of European sales significantly from about 8% in 2009.
Ng said the company was also increasing its range of seafood products with the Marine Stewardship Council eco-friendly certification that rewarded sustainable fishing.
On July 22, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP detailing certain articles and providing measures for the organization and implementation of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. The Decree takes effect on September 5, 2026, replacing Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
(vasep.com.vn) The Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) 2026 is taking place from September 1–3 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, bringing together around 585 delegates from 40 countries, representing approximately 300 companies and organizations across the shrimp supply chain. Representatives from VASEP are attending the event as part of the Vietnamese delegation, strengthening connections with partners across the global shrimp industry.
(vasep.com.vn) At the international B2B seminar (Hosted Buyer Program) held as part of Vietfish 2026, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Pham, Sales Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, delivered a presentation entitled “Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry: Changing for Sustainability.” From the perspective of a seafood processor, the presentation highlighted that Vietnam’s shrimp industry continues to play a leading role in seafood exports, but is entering a new phase of competition in which change is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) VIETFISH 2026 may have concluded after three dynamic days in Ho Chi Minh City, but conversations around the exhibition continue to resonate across international trade media, industry organizations, and the social media channels of participating companies.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn