The EU
The EU was the largest importer of Vietnam bivalve mollusk, making up 64% of the total exports. In Jan-Jun 2016, Vietnam exports of bivalve mollusks to the EU reached US$26.06 million, down 4.2% compared to the same period in 2015. Out of the bloc, Portugal, Spain and Italy remained the to be biggest buyers of bivalve mollusks from Vietnam.
Most of bivalve mollusk items in the European market were mussels, oysters, scallops and clams. Europe mainly provided bivalve mollusks for countries outside the region. France, Belgium and the Netherlands were the largest scallop importers as well as suppliers of many bivalve mollusk items.
In 2015, imports of processed clams into the EU decreased in value but increased in volume. The average import price of processed clams into the EU was US$3.34/kg, down from US$4.81/kg one year ago.
The EU tended to increase imports of processed clams from Vietnam. In 2015, Vietnam was also the leading suppliers of processed clams to the EU. Bivalve mollusk consumption demand in Europe reached the highest in the southern European countries such as Spain, France, Portugal, Italy and Greece.
Japan
In the first half of 2016, Vietnam bivalve mollusk exports to Japan reached US$4.22 million, down 12.4% compared to the same period in 2015. Japan was the 3rd largest importer of Vietnam, accounting for 10.3% of the totals, compared to 12% in the same period in 2015. Currently, Chinese enterprises still dominated the Japanese market with the proportion of 43-65% of the total import value into Japan. In addition, Vietnam enterprises have to compete with some other competitors such as Chile, Thailand, and New Zealand.
The US
In Jan-Jun 2016, Vietnam bivalve mollusk exports to the U.S. totaled US$4.67 million, up 78.3% over the same period last year. With strong growth, the U.S overtook the Japan to hold the 2nd position in importing bivalve mollusk from Vietnam.
The U.S. tends to increase imports of clams from Vietnam, while reduces those from some major suppliers such as China and Chile. So far, the U.S. sourced clams from 18 countries around the world.
ASEAN
In QII/2016, Vietnam bivalve mollusk exports to ASEAN showed the downward trend. The exports to ASEAN in the first half of this year valued US$1.79 million, down 22.7% compared to the same period in 2015. Singapore stayed as the largest bivalve mollusk importer from Vietnam among countries in the bloc. Vietnam bivalve mollusk exports to ASEAN slumped in the QII/2016 and may continue to fall in the next months due to lack of raw material.
Written by Ngoc Thuy
Compiled by Dieu Thuy
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
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