Assuming that Vietnam imported US$600 million worth of products every year, then tax payments would stand at US$120 million with an average import tax rate of 20%. If banks charged guarantee fees at 2.5%, importers would have to pay US$3 million, which given an interest rate of 12% would rise to US$3.36 million, or some VND70 billion, said Nguyen Hoai Nam, deputy general secretary of VASEP.
“Seafood enterprises lose VND70 billion each year, which will be included in production costs. Bank revenues are rising thanks to this source,” said Nam at a conference on the draft regulation on import tax grace period with guarantee of credit institutions held by VASEP on Monday.
Most seafood firms have to import materials at certain times in a year, when the sea is rough, making it impossible for fishing.
Enterprises said the requirement for bank guarantee imposes an extra expense on them. The General Department of Customs, one of the compilers of the draft regulation, said enterprises could use letters of credit for the next shipments as collateral.
However, Nguyen Xuan Nam, director of Hai Vuong Co. Ltd., stressed the compilers were standing away from taxpayers. “Not all enterprises open letters of credit. My customers in Europe in the current economic downturn also fear collateral at banks,” he said.
Enterprises should be allowed to gain profits first, and then tax revenues would rise, said Nam.
Nguyen Pham Thanh, general director of foreign-invested Highland Dragon Company, specializing in canned seafood, said he was surprised at this regulation.
He said investment incentives and friendly business environment were what attracted the foreign investor. “But changes and inconsistency in policies now make us very disappointed,” he stressed.
VASEP said it would send a report to the National Assembly and relevant agencies on this issue in the coming sitting on October 22. In addition, the association is asking for a zero import tax rate.
According to VASEP, seafood material imports picked up sharply in the last two years. Import value rose from US$247.7 million in 2007 to US$541 million in 2011.
In 2011, imported seafood materials contributed some US$900 million to the total export value. Seafood material import value is estimated at US$600 million this year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The “Moringa Noodles Salad” product by Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation was honored as one of the “Top 10 Winning Products” at the THAIFEX – Anuga taste Innovation Show 2026, held as part of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
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
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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