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.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
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