The export value of seafood in the first 2 months of 2022 reached 1.5 billion USD, up 51%; pangasius particularly registers a strong growth rate of over 83% while that of shrimp is over 34%... The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) also claimed that seafood production and processing has almost recovered to normal as before the pandemic.
Market demand is extremely high, and businesses are inundated with orders. Because of the increase in domestic price of raw materials, farmers, fishermen, and businesses are actively producing and anticipating a prosperous year.
Hung Ca Co., Ltd. claimed that it had four frozen seafood processing plants with a processing capacity of 600 to 1,200 tons of raw fish per day to quickly recover production and sales after the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm now has a raft of orders and is making efforts to delivery on schedule.
From the first month of the year, shrimp exports rose by 43% on the corresponding period in 2021. Among exported shrimp products, the export value of processed black tiger shrimp experienced the most significant surge with 157%. The three largest shrimp import markets of Vietnam, including the US, Japan and the EU, all recorded optimistic growths.
As for Vietnam's largest shrimp import market which is the US, the good growth in this market has allowed Vietnam to maintain its 4th rank among the main shrimp suppliers for the US.
According to VASEP, despite the substantial increase in inflation in the US, shrimp demand is anticipated to surge this year as a result of US's economic stabilization policies. Not only shrimp, the US also promotes import of aquatic products from Vietnam such as: pangasius, especially tuna which increased more than 3 times.
Intensive shrimp farming area in Vietnam currently covers over 740,000 ha; with annual yield of over 900,000 tons/year. In particular, Vietnam's black tiger shrimp output surpassed 250,000 tons, ranking first in the world. Although shrimp area expanded by jusst about 1.5% per year, shrimp production increased sharply by 10%/year.
This factor proves the ongoing progress of the farming process, with a substantially larger output than previously. The prosperous market and sufficient production capacity will help Vietnamese shrimp products continue to affirm their position in other countries.
After 3 years of low prices, the price of raw pangasius has now reached from VND 27,000 - 30,000/kg. Currently, pangasius enterprises in the Mekong Delta are unable to meet orders delivery time.
Along with that, pangasius production in the chain has exceeded 87% and 100% of the farming area has been granted a code to aid in traceabikity, which will be an advantage for pangasius to quickly reach $ 2 billion this year.
According to Ms. To Thi Tuong Lan, Deputy General Secretary of VASEP, the major import markets of Vietnamese pangasius are seeing strong growth and high pricing. Pangasius exports in 2022 are forecasted to increase by 20-25% as compared to 2021.
Not only shrimp or pangasius, many other kinds of seafood including squid, octopus, crab, crab .... all recorded double-digit growth.
According to Mr. Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company (Fimex VN), the market in 2022 will be largely determined by the COVID-19 pandemic situation.
Compiled by Khanh Linh
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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