Raw material concerns
So far, seafood processors in Binh Dinh province have to grapple with persistent challenges such as shortage of raw materials, backward processing methods, and limited kind of products. In which, low supply of raw materials for processing plants is the most concerning issue of all local seafood companies.
To keep processing operation, many processors are looking to buy raw materials from outside sources at prices 5 – 10 times higher than those in domestic market. As the result, seafood companies could ensure their operations and keep markets and traditional partners. Currently, 40 percent of raw fish needs of Binh Dinh processors come from foreign countries.
So far, Binh Dinh Fishery Joint Stock Company (Bidifisco) has imported over 200 MT of raw marine fish from other Asian markets. Therefore, during the time of low supply in Binh Dinh, the firm still ran its fish processing chain, assuring jobs for more than 400 workers.
“If the lack of raw materials is still persistent, seafood companies may risk losing customers’ confidence. It means they will get no orders in next year’s harvest season. Particularly, the U.S. and the EU importers always remind their Vietnam suppliers about raw material issue because they are afraid that unstable supply will influence on delivery schedule,” said Cao Thi Kim Lan, Director of Bidifisco.
These recent days, other processing companies in Binh Dinh province are focusing on build cold stores to stock raw materials. According to Banh Quang Ha, Director of Quy Nhon Frozen Seafoods Joint Stock Company (Seaprodex 16), in 2011, the company invested VND2 billion to establish new cold store for raw materials. In main season, it plans to accelerate to purchase and stock raw materials for use in low supply time, ensuring effective business and jobs for labours. Shrimp harvestis not currently in full swing, but Seaprodex 16 has got enough raw materials for its 300 workers.
New market expansion
In addition to finding stable raw material supply and exploiting traditional markets, Binh Dinh province’s seafood companies are turning to new markets. “Recently, local seafood processors focus on trade promotion and international market development. 90 percent of seafood products made in the province are shipped abroad. However, to reach sustainable development, companies need to diversify product chain and shift to further processed products, especially frozen seafood and ready-to-eat items, in compliance to modern technologies.
“Exporters had to deal with stricter requirements and cruel competition in importing markets, so besides remaining business with traditional buyers, Seaprodex 16 has been enhancing trade promotion and new markets development. The company signed contract with some new buyers and produced value-added products to supermarket chain in order to improve competitiveness,” shared Seaprodex 16’s director. “As the result, in 2011, it reached US$5.6 million of export value, a 20 percent growth from the previous year. In the first quarter of 2012, Seaprodex 16 has generated US$1.5 million, up 30 percent over the same quarter of 2011.”
So far, other seafood processors in Binh Dinh have singed long term supply contracts. In the coming months, demand for seafood from Asian and European countries is predicted to go up. Because of diseases spread in livestock and poultry species, consumers in these markets are turning to seafood products which are believed to be safer. It must be a chance for Vietnam exporters to boost their business abroad.
To catch the chance, Binh Dinh Department of Industry and Trade highlights that it is important to invest in fisheries sector to get breakthrough in export. So, in the 2012 – 2020 period, the province will exploit all production capacity of local current processing plants, as well as build new processing plants in Phu Cat and Hoai Nhon districts with overall capacity of 5,000 – 6,000 MT per year and a plant in Quy Nhon with capacity of 4,000 MT per year.
(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
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