Vietnam's seafood export turnover in the first five months of 2025 reached over $4.34 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024. In May, exports hit nearly $997 million, marking a 20% increase. Notably, the U.S. market stood out with a turnover of over $234 million in May, surging 61% year-on-year—the highest growth among major markets.
This sharp rise was mainly driven by a “policy gap” in U.S. tariffs. From April 9 to July 9, 2025, the U.S. applied a temporary 10% tariff on imports from Vietnam, significantly lower than the previously warned 46%. Seizing this window, many Vietnamese enterprises accelerated deliveries.
In the first five-month period, shrimp remained the leading export item with a turnover of more than $1.71 billion, up 32%. In May, shrimp exports reached over $415 million - the highest monthly figure of the year. Pangasius also saw positive growth of 11% over five months, with a strong 13% increase in May, contrasting with a modest 4% rise in April.
Pangasius exports to the U.S., which had plummeted in April, rebounded by 35% in May—a clear testament to businesses' flexible adjustments in delivery schedules.
Similarly, tuna exports also showed signs of recovery, albeit at a slower pace. After a slight decline in April, tuna exports rose by 7.6% in May, bringing the total five-month export value to over USD 405 million - an increase of 5%. Other product groups such as squid - octopus, crabs and bivalve mollusks also posted strong growth, with bivalve mollusks achieving an impressive 63% increase.
On the market side, the U.S. remained the most volatile. In the first five months of the year, exports to this market reached $774 million, up 27%. However, the sharp growth in May was largely time-sensitive. If the tariff reverts to the projected 46% after July 9, 2025, many enterprises will be forced to halt shipments, risking a sharp decline in orders in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the EU and Japan recorded steadier growth of 14% and 18% respectively over the five-month period. China and Hong Kong continued to serve as key pillars, with exports surging by 50%, especially for shrimp (+90%) and bivalve mollusks (+285%).
However, behind this short-term growth, Vietnam’s seafood industry faces significant challenges from U.S. tariff policies. A potential 46% countervailing duty would inflate costs, create a compounding tax burden, and push many businesses—especially small ones—into precarious positions. The consequences could extend beyond lost orders, potentially disrupting entire supply chains and increasing localized unemployment in seafood-producing regions.
Competitors like China, India, Thailand, and South American salmon producers are also maneuvering to either cope or capitalize on market share opportunities. Notably, exporters from Latin America, such as Brazil and Chile, are poised to benefit if Vietnam is squeezed out of the U.S. supply chain due to high tariffs.
Vietnam’s seafood export outlook for 2025 hinges heavily on the tariff scenario post-July 9. If the tariff remains at 10% or is eliminated, Vietnam could maintain or exceed $10 billion in exports. However, a 46% tariff could drag the annual turnover down to $9 billion, with lingering risks.
Vietnam’s seafood exports are demonstrating strong recovery and adaptability amid uncertainties. Yet, the sustainability of growth in the second half of 2025 will largely depend on U.S. trade policies. This will be the pivotal factor shaping Vietnam’s seafood industry landscape in 2025.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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