By the end of August, seafood exports to the US still maintained a growth rate of nearly 27%, and to the EU increased by 10%. Exports to Korea are equivalent to the same period last year. In the top 5 markets, exports to China fell deeply by 14.6%, exports to Japan decreased by nearly 3%. Besides the US and EU, exports to Australia and Russia after 8 months still maintained high growth, increasing by 25% and 52% respectively over the same period last year.
The Covid-19 epidemic broke out strongly in the focus area of Vietnam's seafood, accounting for 90-95% of the country's seafood export turnover as well as the industry's workforce, causing difficulties for the business community.
The seafood export results in August 2021 clearly reflected the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic on the seafood industry. With a turnover of USD 588 million, seafood exports in August 2021 decreased by nearly 28% compared to the same period last year and decreased in most key products. Exports of shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, crabs and other marine fish all decreased by 20-33% over the same period in 2020.
Exports to all markets in August 2021 decreased by 16 - 50% compared to the same period in 2020.Accordingly, exports to China and Japan both decreased sharply by 36%, to the EU decreased by 32% (only to the Netherlands decreased by nearly 50%, Germany decreased by 42%). Exports to the US and Russia decreased by at least 16%. Exports to the UK fell by 48%, to Australia and Canada by 35% and 37% respectively.
However, with the policy of supporting and promptly removing difficulties, obstacles and bottlenecks hindering production and trade activities of enterprises before the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, as content of Resolution No. 105/NQ-CP dated September 9, 2021 of the Government, seafood enterprises hope to have conditions and support programs to resume supply chains and gradually restore production and export from now on. 9/15. With the situation of epidemic control getting better, the policies and measures to combat the epidemic that are reasonable and suitable for both economic goals, seafood exports will accelerate in the last 3 months of the year, especially from October - the time when demand and export orders often increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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
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