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) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(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.
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