Speaking at the annual meeting of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters (VASEP) in HCM City yesterday, he said there had been complaints from seafood processing companies about numerous difficulties in importing raw seafood for re-export.
Truong Dinh Hoe, VASEP general secretary, said Viet Nam imported seafood worth US$541 million from 74 countries and territories last year.
Around 80 per cent of it was for processing for re-export, the rest was for breeding and local consumption, he said.
With local supply being unstable for long now, importing seafood to process for export has been vital for companies to maintain production and sustain jobs, according to the report.
Despite the EU's debt problems and other difficulties, the seafood industry should continue to consider it as a key export market, Hoe said.
But they should also focus more on emerging markets in Asia, especially ASEAN members, due to their high demand for seafood products, particularly tra fish products, he said.
The association would draft programmes to boost exports of shrimp and tra fish products to South Korea and South America, he said.
Global seafood demand was expected to recover at the end of the year, he said, adding that along with policy support and companies' efforts to restructure, this would enable the seafood industry to meet the year's export target of $6.5 billion.
Fisheries bailout
Viet Nam Development Bank (VDB) has agreed in principle to support tra fish farmers, processors and exporters facing a hard time, according to the VASEP.
Last week, the bank sent a document to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requesting him to approve three proposals to bail out the industry under Government Resolution No 13/NQ-CP. The proposals, involving more than $330 million in loans, were composed by the bank and VASEP.
VASEP said the tra fish industry had a serious shortage of capital and raw materials. Production was stagnant.
It added that if there were no timely solutions, about 20-30 per cent of producers would go bankrupt this year, affecting any future development.
While waiting for the Prime Minister's approval on policies to deal with investment and export credit risks, the document asked the bank to be allowed to extend loans to seafood and tra fish exporters. The debt would be scheduled for payment within two years.
VDB said it would take responsibility for co-ordinating with VASEP to review and process each specific case. This could mean rescheduling debts or continuing to offer loans to maintain production, exports and stable employment.
Next, while waiting for export credit regulations to be issued under Decree No 75/2011/ND-CP, the bank asked to be allowed to help processors get loans to buy fish from farmers.
Farmers would also be allowed to access loans to develop fish breeding areas and repay them from their export contracts.
Finally, to save large seafood exporters grinding to a halt, the two organisations proposed that: "Besides the above solutions, relevant State bodies and VASEP will work out solutions to enable them to restructure the organisation, settle financial problems, and improve productionmanagement".
In May, VASEP asked the bank to offer emergency support to the tra fish industry. According to VASEP, the processors need a total capital estimated at VND5 trillion (US$238 million) to buy 200,000 tonnes of tra fish.
The association said the companies already had export contracts and wanted the bank to help them purchase the raw product with four-month loans at preferential interest rates below 10 per cent per year.
In addition, companies that breed tra fish require a combined VND2 trillion ($95.2 million) to be able to annually supply 100,000 tonnes of fish.
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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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