Official data indicates that total container throughput in May reached 716,619 TEUs, a 5% decrease year-on-year. Notably, import containers totaled only 355,950 TEUs, representing a 9% decrease from the same period last year and a steep 19% drop compared to April, marking the largest month-on-month decrease since early 2023. Exports also fell by 5%, marking the sixth consecutive month of decline.
Port Executive Director Gene Seroka commented “May was our weakest month for cargo volume in over two years. Without comprehensive, long-term trade agreements, consumers may face higher prices and fewer product choices during the upcoming holiday season.”
The most significant impact on import flows stems from elevated U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods with certain items facing duties as high as 145%. Amid a lack of clarity on when trade tensions might ease, importers have adopted a cautious approach, significantly delaying or reducing shipments to the U.S.
Additionally, the decline in container traffic has directly impacted the Southern California economy. The average number of daily ship calls dropped to five, down sharply from the pre-decline average of 12 per day. This has resulted in nearly a 50% reduction in labor demand, severely affecting employment in the local logistics and maritime transport sectors.
Transportation experts forecast that cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles may continue to languish during the summer months if tariff barriers remain unresolved. Although some duties have been temporarily adjusted to 30%, analysts warn that the impact on consumer prices and logistics costs will persist. Ernie Tedeschi, Chief Economist at Yale Budget Lab, estimates that the new tariffs are driving up consumer prices by approximately 1.5%, costing U.S. households nearly $2,500 in annual purchasing power, with low-income groups hit hardest.
The decline in cargo throughput at the Port of Los Angeles, which handles over 20% of the U.S.’s containerized import value, serves as a warning signal for global supply chains. Amid mounting international trade barriers, stable tariff policies and long-term trade agreements are seen as critical to revitalizing logistics activity and sustaining growth momentum in the second half of 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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