The call was made at a conference that the Viet Nam Trade Promotion Agency held yesterday to seek ways for Vietnamese companies to optimise business advantages and expand further into the EU market.
Negotiations for the EU-Viet Nam FTA began in 2012 and are entering the final round. The agreement, which creates opportunities for Viet Nam to boost exports to a market of about 500 million consumers, is to be signed by year-end.
A representative of the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (Eurocham) said negotiated reductions in tariff barriers alone will increase Vietnamese exports to the EU by 30 to 40 per cent.
The Eurocham official said the EU followed strict sanitary, phyto-sanitary, environmental and technical standards, and that consistency in the quality and safety of Vietnamese products would lead to an increase in exports.
Martin Buckle, an expert of the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries under the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at the conference that EU importers were keen to develop business relationships with companies that took the time and effort to invest in quality.
He pointed out that increasingly stringent standards were applied to all food products being exported into the EU, including the hazard control system (HACCP), the new food safety management system (ISO 22000) and the European Union's new pesticide residue levels.
According to the Department of Processing and Trade for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Products and Salt Production, the EU is a large potential market for Vietnamese agricultural products.
To tap the potential, especially after the FTA is signed, Vietnamese companies must carefully study the EU's strict quality requirements for imports, as well as the tastes of each sub-market in the EU, to set up appropriate export strategies.
Vietnamese companies should also pay attention to social and environmental responsibilities, the department added.
Official figures showed that the total value of goods traded between Viet Nam and the EU reached 27.6 billion euro (US$35.48 billion) in 2013, of which 77 per cent were Vietnamese exports.
Viet Nam's exports to the EU accounted for 19 per cent of the country's total export turnover, making the EU the country's second biggest trade partner.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in May 2026, reaching USD 14 million, up 18% compared with the same month last year. Cumulative export value for the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 62 million, representing a remarkable 101% increase over the same period in 2025, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery in international markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 367 million in the first five months of 2026, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025. While the decline is not yet severe, the more concerning issue is that pressure is mounting in key markets such as the United States and the European Union, just as ocean freight rates are rising sharply on long-haul routes. The current situation is therefore not merely about slower orders, but rather a clear restructuring phase for Vietnam’s tuna industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
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