Many opportunities
According to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in 2013, Vietnamese seafood products are available in 156 countries and territories to bring back total value of US$6.8 billion. In which, the top ten importers represented 85 percent.
Despite many difficulties in 2013, Vietnamese seafood products saw growth of 10.1 percent against the previous year. The three main markets - including the U.S., Japan and the EU - all reported an import value of over US$1 billion. In 2014, Vietnam is expected to show more signs of a future export growth.
Japan is gradually an open market for seafood products from Vietnam as Japanese authorities increased the allowable Ethoxyquin content level in imported shrimp from Vietnam to 0.2ppm, compared to the previous low level of 0.01ppm. In addition, Vietnam hopes to boost exports to new potential markets like China and Hong Kong in 2014. In 2013, shipments to these two destinations had a worth of US$650 million, up 55 percent from 2012.
Furthermore, Vietnam is setting up a distribution center for pangasius products exported to the EU in the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. Exports of Vietnamese pangasius to this huge market will see more opportunities to reach growth in both volume and value thanks to the center.
So far, VASEP and the Management Board of Zeebrugge port signed a memorandum on the establishment of the distribution center. “This is one of the largest ports in Europe and it takes only several hours to transport imported seafood products from Zeebrugge to other European countries located about 500 km from the port. If this plan is fully realized, Vietnam seafood will have more advantages in the EU.
Currently, Vietnamese companies have been sending their seafood products to the EU through Belgium, but these were individual shipments. Therefore, the establishment of a distribution center will help concentrate supply from Vietnam as well as improve their value.
Trade barriers
However, opportunities always bring with them challenges. Vietnam fishery industry needs to acknowledge its internal challenges as well as those from the importing markets. For example, the U.S has been one of the biggest importers of Vietnam. In 2013, shipments to American market reached around US$1.75 billion and Vietnam targets to boost exports to this destination to US$2 billion in 2014.
There are two problems waiting for Vietnam seafood to overcome in coming time. The first one is the U.S catfish inspection program, which will likely be switched from U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to U.S. Ministry of Agriculture (USDA). If the decision is made, pangasius products fail to entry to the U.S market. The second one is the DOC’s annual antidumping tax administrative reviews (POR) imposed to imported frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam. If the U.S. selects Indonesia to be the surrogate country for antidumping tax calculations instead of Bangladesh like what they did in the previous years, there will be more disadvantages for Vietnamese pangasius exporters,” said Dao Tran Nhan, Counsellor of Vietnam Trade Mission in the U.S.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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