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) 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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