This year, the number of businesses participating in this fair increased sharply, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. Many traditional partners and new importers came to the fair with the desire to find Vietnamese products. Therefore, this year's Fair is expected to promote Vietnam's seafood trade with the US and other importing countries.
Exports to the US tended to decline from the last quarter of 2022 and continued to decline deeply in the first 2 months of 2023. Up to now, the US only accounts for 14.5% of Vietnam's total seafood exports, but still holds the No. 1 import market position.
Although inflation has slowed down, gasoline prices have fallen, but production costs and prices of practical products in the US remain high. Consumers still have to tighten their spending during this period, they prefer to consume products with lower prices.
Due to high inflation, consumption of frozen seafood in the US increased sharply
Therefore, the average price of US seafood imports in the first month of the year fell by more than 9% compared to the same period last year. Vietnam is also among the countries that have reduced exports to the US because the average export price has decreased by the same amount.
By the end of February 2023, Vietnam's seafood exports to the US reached US$155 million, down 55% over the same period last year. In which, shrimp accounted for 37%, tuna accounted for 23%, pangasius accounted for 17% and other marine fish products accounted for 15%.
In the context of inflation, the US seafood import and consumption will increase in the frozen segment and decrease more in the value-added processed goods segment, the export price will continue to decrease compared to 2022. It will be difficult to have a strong breakthrough in the coming months.
In addition to the US market, in the scenario of Vietnam's seafood export in 2023, China is considered the driving force, after the country completely lifted the zero Covid policy.
However, China is like a “big pie” being shared by many exporting countries, creating too much competitive pressure. For Vietnam, there are two biggest competitors, Ecuador and India, which are occupying a dominant market share with more than 60% of China's shrimp imports. The strength of these two countries is frozen shrimp products, small size with cheap price. Not only shrimp, other seafood products such as marine fish, cephalopods,etc. Vietnam also faces competition.
Vietnamese shrimp faces strong competion from other suppliers such as India and Ecuador in the Chinese market
In the first two months of 2023, seafood exports to China and the US reached nearly 151 million USD, down 11% over the same period, mainly because of the decrease in January. Seafood exports to this market in February had quite positive results with an increase of 25%, export of many marine fish species increased sharply.
Beside key products like pangasius, Vietnamese seafood enterprises can make all use of strengths from fresh/live seafood exported to the Chinese market, for the restaurant, hotel, and tourism segments. For example: black tiger shrimp, lobster, sea fish, crab, oyster, fresh/raw scallop. In addition, enterprises can approach the Chinese market from a local perspective. There are localities in China with characteristics and consumption habits similar to Vietnam, preferring Vietnamese seafood products over other countries. To illustrate, Guangxi imports more than 75% of seafood from Vietnam, only 25% from other countries.
Vietnam's seafood exports in February showed signs of recovery compared to the previous month and are expected to be more positive in the coming months. Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first quarter are estimated to reach about $1.9-2 billion, down 25% compared to the same period last year.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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