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) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
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
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn