Pakistan is still getting lower prices for its fishery products than neighbouring countries such as India. The boost in value can mainly be attributed to the weakening of the rupee against the dollar and export of the last bit of edible fish in Pakistan waters to cheap markets such as China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and some other countries of the Far East, along with some chunk being exported to the Egypt and Middle East.
It's a good news that somehow the MFD has persuaded EU to lift the ban of seafood exports from Pakistan, but it must be noted that allowing one or two processing units is not going to resolve the problem, just as a swallow doesn't make a spring. The entire fisheries and fishing sector needs immediate steps for revamping and renovation. Unless this is done, it is doubtful if it will be possible to establish traceability and cold-chain.
Unfortunately, a look at the harbour shows no signs of improvement in the artisan fleets design or the technology employed in the processing units. The fish is still stashed on the dirty fish harbour floors and sold and transported with little or no ice. Most of the seafood processing units do not have adequate facilities for making ice and the ones who do have, their equipment is usually out of order and is just there to comply with the formalities. Almost all the processing units are run by obsolete freezing and cold storing machinery and equipment, as well as poorly insulated stores where the finished product is let to deteriorate due to rapid fluctuations in storage temperature. It has been noted that products from most of the processing plants and exporters can hardly fulfil the right kind of product core temperature requirements of the leading shipping companies such as APL. Other shipping lines are lax on this issue and would even accept half-frozen products for shipment which must be regularly checked before every shipment.
The EU continues to be the largest market for Pakistani shrimps and some kinds of fish. But with the dwindling stocks of shrimps as well as fish, it is doubtful if the steps taken to resume exports to the EU will not be done at the cost of conservation of stocks and destruction of our fauna and flora. A reasonable balance ought to be kept between indiscriminate catching of all kinds of fish and their seasons and conservation if the welfare of the industry is desired, before it is wiped off and the last fish is done with.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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