“Even though it looks like sanctions will be eased, it is just an announcement made at high levels of the government – and the practical measures needed to make it reality have not been taken,” said U Han Tun, general co-secretary of the Myanmar Fisheries Federation, during a weekly meeting on October 9.
“We can start getting ready for when we can export to those markets, even though that is not yet possible,” said U Han Tun, general co-secretary of Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF).
He added that the fisheries industry is not ready to supply EU and US markets immediately because the commonly farmed species in Myanmar are not attractive to consumers in those markets, he said.
“Myanmar mostly farms rohu [carp], a freshwater species that is popular with Bengladeshis.
“However, Myanmar also exported 8000 tonnes a year of freshwater prawn to the US before the sanctions were imposed in 2003,” he said.
He added that Western consumers mostly prefer saltwater prawn, as well as tilapia and sea bass.
U Han Tun said the US imports at least 500,000 tonnes of saltwater prawn a year, while China exports 300,000 tonnes of tilapia to the US a year.
He added that Myanmar could also start exporting sea bass to the EU if it is allowed to access the globalised system of preferences (GSP) for least developed countries, adding to the 240,000 tonnes supplied by Vietnam annually.
“Vietnam is the main sea bass supplier to the international market. But Myanmar still has chance for export this fish to the EU,” he said.
However, there are other non-tax barriers that might prevent exports from Myanmar to the EU and US that are intended to protect domestic companies, he said.
U Han Tun said Vietnamese exporters have previously been subjected to tighter-than-usual testing by US authorities.
U Win Kyaing, MFF general secretary, said adding Myanmar onto the GSP list would provide quick profits to exporters – and increase competition.
However, he said the demand would likely outweigh supply.
“We need to do more market research to identify which species are wanted by different markets. There’s not much point trying to export to the EU and US markets because demand for that species in weak,” he said.
“But we should farm carp in smaller quantities because it’s a relatively safe market for us,” he said.
Daw Toe Nandar Tin, spokesperson of the Myanmar Fisheries Products Exporters and Processors Association, said the industry was battling a number of other problems that hindered its ability to make high-quality products.
“Exporters need 24-hour electricity to make fisheries products, as well as a stable exchange rate,” she said.
“GSP is a dream for us and has not been implemented yet,” she added.
“Our aim is to get exports back to the levels they were before sanctions were imposed in 2003 for as the first step,” she said.
However, U Soe Win, chair of the meeting and an MFF member, said that not only exporters but also producers need to start preparing for when remaining sanctions are dropped.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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