The China Fisheries & Seafood Expo has surpassed the North America Seafood Expo to become the second-largest professional seafood trade fair in the world, after the Global Seafood Expo in Barcelona, Spain. In 2024, the fair attracted 1,602 exhibitors (down 4.6% compared to 2023) from 51 countries (compared to 53 countries in 2023). Over three days, the event welcomed 42,000 professional visitors from 136 countries (up from 40,127 visitors from 120 countries in 2023).
The Expo serves as a global platform for seafood exporters to connect, showcase products, and strengthen their brands to both Chinese and international buyers, thereby expanding their presence in the Chinese market.
China is among Vietnam’s top seafood export markets. In 2024, Vietnam’s total seafood export value made an impressive recovery, reaching USD 10 billion. Particularly, China (including Hong Kong) surpassed the United States to become Vietnam’s largest seafood import market, with exports worth USD 1.9 billion, accounting for nearly 19% of the country’s total seafood export value. Many products recorded strong growth, such as shrimp exports, which reached USD 843 million, up 39% year-on-year.
China’s seafood consumption demand remains high and continues to grow thanks to its large population, rapid urbanization, and increasing preference for high-quality products. However, the market also poses challenges due to frequent changes in import regulations. Therefore, regularly updating export requirements, studying consumer segments, and improving product design, packaging, and labeling are essential.
Participation in the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo is an effective opportunity for Vietnamese exporters to update market information, meet potential buyers, and promote products. For this year’s Expo, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) registered 144 m² for the Vietnam Pavilion under the National Trade Promotion Program, offering a platform for enterprises to display and promote their products. The pavilion area was reduced by 20% compared to 2024 due to global market uncertainties caused by U.S. tariffs, which have affected the overall sentiment in the seafood industry.
A total of 15 Vietnamese exporters joined VASEP at the Vietnam Pavilion, including 7 pangasius exporters, 2 tuna exporters, 2 shrimp companies, and 4 processors/exporters of other seafood products.
After being suspended in 2019, Vietnam’s participation in the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo was re-approved under the National Trade Promotion Program for 2024–2025, marking strong government support for the seafood industry amid difficulties in several traditional export markets since 2023.
Thanks to the state budget support, this year the Vietnam Pavilion secured a prime location—Booth B7-0707, along the main aisle—among other national pavilions from major seafood suppliers such as Ireland, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, South Korea, and Russia.
VASEP used the slogan “Vietnam – a sustainable destination for seafood”, affirming the industry’s commitment to sustainable production, processing, and export in line with both domestic and international market requirements, amid the global trend toward a green and responsible economy.
The exhibition was honored to welcome Mr. Nong Duc Lai, Vietnam Trade Counselor in Beijing, who shared valuable market insights and exchanged information with the VASEP business delegation.
Some photos from the exhibition:
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
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
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Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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