Many potentials to develop
There are now 276 seafood processing companies in Mekong Delta, representing 47 percent of total number of seafood companies in Vietnam. These processors own 235 processing plants with total production capacity of 1.2 million of MT per year, accounting for 86 percent of nationwide frozen seafood production.
Seafood products from Mekong Delta are sent to 165 countries and territories, in which there main markets are the EU, Japan, the U.S., Canada, Brazil, South Korea, China to bring back an annual revenue of US$5 billion.
Besides exports, seafood sales in domestic market are also highlighted. Many products are processed with high quality and eye-catching designs to meet demands of local consumers. The fish processing creates jobs for millions of local labours in Mekong Delta, consisting of a momentum for the development of fishing and aquaculture activities.
However, raw products still make up a huge proportion in fish production of the region. Currently, frozen pangasius fillets make up of 90 – 98 percent of total pangasius exports. The proportion of value-added items is at 30 – 50 percent of total sales of shrimp, cephalopod and other marine products. The situation reflects that the Mekong Delta's processing industry could be more invested and developed.
In addition, the building of brand name with geographical indication and country of origin for some key export items such as organic shrimp, pangasius, clam, blood cockle, crab were not focused by many producers and exporters.
Due to season-depending raw material supplies, local fish processors sometimes face to lack of raw fish for production. Lack of master planning leads to some crises in raw fish supply, negatively affecting to fish production.
Development orientations
Experts say that from now to 2020, Mekong Delta should focus on developing seafood processing industry through implementing comprehensive and sustainable planning on the base of closed links among all stakeholders in the industry. Furthermore, a network of all seafood producing hubs is also needed to set up to share information and profit throughout the value chain.
Data on raw material supply, consumer markets, pricing and policies must be available to provinces and seafood companies in order to help them timely updated trends and challenges in the market to find flexible and efficient measures to maintain and expand business. Mekong Delta-based provinces need to cooperate in trade promotion and investment attraction in order to build up the brand name with geographical indication key exported seafood such as pangasius, black tiger shrimp or tuna. It is also important to put focus on quality management in the whole production chain.
To reach these targets, Mekong Delta should mobilize the participation of local authorized agencies, fishery associations and companies, and representatives of farmers to build up a center for fishery development in Can Tho city, which is linked with Mekong Delta's fish farming areas and a fishing hub in Kiên Giang. These two hubs will not only create links among provinces' fish producing and trading activities but they also attract foreign investments and ODA funds into regional fishery sector.
For stabilize seafood processing activities, Mekong Delta provinces must strictly control of the investment flow in local processing plants to avoid waste of production capacity of plants through reviews of the planning on sustainable large-scale raw material producing areas as well as investments in building modern processing plants.
Besides, investments in technologies and modern equipments are important to boost the production of value-added products, raising the competitiveness of Mekong Delta seafood. Local export companies are required to control the quality of products in compliance with quality and food safety standards.
Mekong Delta plans to build a center for market research and information in Can Tho to support seafood production and trading activities in the region and beyond. A new center for trade promotion will also be set up to support for promoting seafood products in international markets.
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.
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