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.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
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