In the first months of 2020, Korea was also affected hardly by the Covid-19 epidemic, demand for cephalopod imports of South Korea declined due to the closure of restaurant systems. A shutdown of the hotel and a closed school, and a drop in tourists will also reduce Korea's demand for cephalopod imports.
South Korea remained the largest importer of Vietnamese cephalopod, accounting for 42% of Vietnam's total export value of this commodity to the markets. Vietnamese cephalopod exports to South Korea dived by 6.2% in April 2020 and fell by 22.3% in the first four months of 2020 to reach US$ 63.4 million. In the first four months of this year, cephalopod exports to South Korea rose only by 14% in February, exports in the remaining three months shrunk.
The decrease in export price and demand due to the Covid-19 epidemic is one of the factors affecting Vietnam's cephalopod exports to South Korea in the first four months of 2020. The tariff advantage from the Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) partly helps to boost Vietnamese cephalopod exports to this market.
In the structure of squid and octopus products of Vietnam exports to South Korea, octopus still dominated by 68.8%, squid accounted for 31.2%. In the first quarter of 2020, in the total export of squid and octopus products of Vietnam to South Korea, only export of dried/baked squid (HS 03) jumped by 19.8%, the export value of the remaining products fell in which the export value of processed octopus (HS 16) dropped the most, with a decrease of over 37%.
South Korea mainly imports cephalopod products from Vietnam such as dried squid, skin, frozen cleaning processing squid, frozen sushi squid, frozen whole octopus, chilled octopus … Vietnamese squid products exports to South Korea have higher prices than that of octopus with the average price ranging from 11-14 USD/kg. The price of Vietnamese octopus exports to South Korea has an average price of US$6- US$6.5/kg.
Currently, Vietnam enjoys a 0% export tax to Korea for fresh/live and frozen octopus products (HS030751 and HS030759). Dried octopus/ salt/live/fresh/frozen accounts for the highest proportion of total squid and octopus products exports to South Korea.
Diseases also cause economic growth decline, lower people's income. Therefore, people will only consume affordable products, limiting the consumption of higher-priced items such as squid and octopus products. Suppliers can focus on selling to online channels, prioritizing frozen, canned, deep-processed products with long shelf life, reducing fresh products due to consumers changing their consumption habits in the context of the disease.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the global food market is facing increasing volatility in logistics costs, energy prices, and supply chains. In the seafood sector, alongside ocean-caught products such as tuna, the surimi-based product group—including fish cakes, crab sticks, fish balls, and other imitation seafood products—has also been affected to some extent by these developments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the 2026 brackish-water shrimp farming calendar issued by the Da Nang Department of Agriculture and Environment, the 2026 crop started in early January and is expected to harvest in late June. However, stocking progress has been slower than planned as farmers remain cautious, focusing on pond renovation and production preparations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After the Lunar New Year of Binh Ngo 2026, commercial clam prices in Ha Tinh province surged sharply, nearly doubling compared to normal levels and standing about 20–30% higher than the same period last year. The spike has encouraged many aquaculture households to accelerate harvesting and sell large volumes to the market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 379.6 million, up 22% compared to the same period in 2025. The double-digit growth in the very first month of the year signals a relatively positive recovery in orders, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) From the very beginning of 2026, India’s shrimp industry has received a series of favorable trade signals: U.S. reciprocal tariffs have been reduced, while the successful conclusion of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU has opened prospects for eliminating nearly all seafood tariffs in the coming years. This shift not only enables Indian shrimp to quickly offset declines in the U.S. market, but also reshapes the global competitive landscape, placing greater pressure on Vietnamese shrimp exporters in terms of price, market share, and strategic positioning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is recording many positive signals, both in terms of raw fish prices and export prospects. Export turnover this year is projected to reach approximately USD 2.3 billion. Amid ongoing volatility in the global market, diversifying export destinations, reducing dependence on major markets, and effectively leveraging free trade agreements (FTAs) are considered key to maintaining sustainable growth and creating new momentum for the pangasius sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With forecasts indicating that weather conditions in 2026 may become more complex—featuring prolonged heatwaves, unseasonal rains, and increased salinity intrusion—the agricultural sector of Can Tho City advises brackish water shrimp farmers to strictly follow the seasonal farming calendar and strengthen pond environmental management to minimize risks and improve production efficiency.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On February 4, a working delegation led by the Authority of Telecommunications (Ministry of Science and Technology) met with the Management Board of Cat Lo Fishing Port (Phuoc Thang Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) to comprehensively review the installation of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), assess signal connectivity, and evaluate the effectiveness of information technology applications in fisheries management across the city.
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