The Middle East includes 16 countries (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Turkey, UAE, Syria, Yemen and Egypt). With a surface of 7 million square meters, the region is home to 380 million of people and possesses various natural resources. It is a high-demand market for imported products, some of which are listed as key export items of Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnamese companies will have opportunities to boost trade with Middle East.
According to Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, in 2012, Vietnam seafood exports to Middle East reached over US$4 billion, of which seafood products brought back US$193 million. Referring to statistics from Vietnamese Customs, pangasius sales to this destination was around US$185.9 million, representing 63 percent of total earnings from seafood exports. Saudi Arabia was the leading importer in the region, followed by Egypt. Only 5 out of 16 countries reported an annual import value of over US$10 million.
Middle East countries’ typical weather conditions are not appropriate to produce agricultural products, including seafood; therefore, they have a very high demand for shrimp, pangasius, canned tuna, sardine, canned mackerel and dried fish products.
According to International Trade Centre (ITC), in 2011 fish imports (HS03) into some Middle East countries got higher growth than that recorded in 2010. Saudi Arabia purchased US$310.1 million of seafood products, up 33 percent; Palestine with US$11.3 million, up 50 percent; Iran with US$75.8, up 31 percent... Middle East’s fish imports decreased due to current civil war in some countries, which made foreign exporters hesitant to send products to these markets.
Vietnamese seafood and, in particular, pangasius products have initially had position and prestige in the Middle East markets. Exports to some countries reported year-on-year growth.
Vietnam was listed in the top five suppliers, in the frozen fish fillet segment, in some Middle East countries. It ranked the fourth in Israel with an export value of US$13.2 million in 2012, up 95 percent over that of 2011. Over the years, Vietnam was Lebanon’s leading partner with a proportion of 75 percent in the country’ total pangasius purchase. In 2012, Vietnam sold US$10.8 million of fish products to this destination, down 17.8 percent on that of 2011. In Turkey, Vietnam ranked the third among frozen fish fillet suppliers within the four recent years. In 2012, exports to this country reached US$5.3 million, up 14% from 2011. It is important to note that Vietnam’s shares in Turkey’s frozen fish fillet segment increased considerably from 2 percent in 2008 to 20 percent in 2012.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
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