According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, from the beginning of 2018, Vietnam’s cephalopod sales to China witnessed the triple-digit increases. In April 2018, exports to the country reached US$4.4 million, an increase of 127% over April 2017; the figure in the first four months of this year estimated at nearly US$14 million, up 159% over the same period in 2017.
Currently, the consumption of molluscs in China is increasing because people are more concerned about their health, so they are looking for healthy foods such as seafood. Rise in the number of the middle class and increasing tourists in the country also facilitated the consumption of cephalopod in restaurants. In addition, the stable yuan stimulates the demand of Chinese importers.
According to the International Trade Center (ITC), China's cephalopod imports in 2017 valued at US$98.9 million; down 70.4% compared to 2016. Peru, North Korea, Chile were the largest suppliers of cephalopod to the Chinese market.
Vietnam was the sixth largest exporter of cephalopod to China and the fourth largest exporter of live/fresh/chilled squid (HS code 030741) to the market behind North Korea, Japan and Indonesia. Out of the four biggest suppliers of live/fresh/chilled squid to China, only Vietnam and Indonesia enjoyed the zero tariffs, while the others were subject to the tariff rate of 6%.
Besides, Vietnam held as the third leading supplier of frozen octopus (HS code 030759) to China behind Japan and Mauritania.
In 2017, China increased imports of processed squid products (HS code 160554), live/fresh/chilled octopus (HS code 030751) and processed octopus (HS code 160555); of that imports of live/fresh/chilled octopus showed the highes climb.
|
CEPHALOPOD IMPORTS INTO CHINA BY PRODUCTS (Thousand US$) |
||||
|
HS |
Products |
2016 |
2017 |
Variation (%) |
|
160554 |
Processed squid |
16,949 |
77.505 |
357.3 |
|
030749 |
Frozen/smoked/dried/salted squid |
305,328 |
20.031 |
-93.4 |
|
030759 |
Frozen/smoked/dried/salted octopus |
11,352 |
1.055 |
-90.7 |
|
030751 |
Live/fresh/chilled octopus |
3 |
143 |
4,666.7 |
|
160555 |
Processed octopus |
59 |
136 |
130.5 |
|
030741 |
Live/fresh/chilled squid |
187 |
- |
-100.0 |
|
Total |
333.878 |
98,870 |
-70,4 |
|
|
(Source: ITC) |
||||
China has a large import demand for domestic consumption and re-exports. Thanks to the advantageous geographical location, Vietnam expected to boost exports to China.
China is projected to continue as an important and potential market for Vietnamese cephalopod companies in the coming time, when exports to mainstream markets face difficulties.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As importing markets increasingly focus on biosecurity and traceability, Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework and disease management system for aquaculture, covering tilapia farming as well as other cultured species. This system is based on the Law on Animal Health, regulations on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases, the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Farmed Aquatic Species, and environmental monitoring and early warning programs for aquaculture areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
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