However, thanks to the good growth in the first half of the year, the total export value of Vietnamese cephalopod to this market increased by 13% compared with the same period in 2017, touching US$130 million. South Korea continued to remain as the largest importing market of Vietnamese cephalopod.
Of that, exports of Vietnamese octopus items to South Korea recorded the highest rise of 15% over the same period last year. And octopus kept as the main export products of Vietnam to South Korea, accounting for more than 72% of total export value. In particular, Vietnam boosted shipments of processed octopus to this market. In addition, exports of live/fresh/frozen squid products were also boosted to the Korean market in the first seven months of this year.
According to ITC, after the decline of imports in 2017, cephalopod imports into South Korea in the first half of 2018 tended to increase. These can be considered as good signs for cephalopod suppliers to the Korean market.
China was the largest exporter of this item to South Korea (53.2%), followed by Peru (31%) and Vietnam (10.9%). In the top 7 main suppliers, South Korea increased imports from China, Peru, Vietnam and Thailand while reducing imports from Chile, the Philippines and Japan. In particular, imports from Vietnam witnessed the highest rise.
Processed squid and fresh/live/chilled octopus were the two key export products to the market, accounting for the highest proportion of total cephalopod imports into South Korea. In the first half of this year, imports of processed squid and processed octopus into the market climbed by 19% and 1.3%, respectively over the same period of 2017. Meanwhile, Imports of frozen/dried/salted octopus and fresh/live/chilled octopus into the country fell by 70% and 28%, respectively.
With the tax rate of 0% for fresh/live/frozen octopus (HS code 030751 and HS code 030759) exporting to South Korea, Vietnam expected to continue to boost shipments of these items to the market in the coming time.
|
CEPHALOPOD IMPORTS INTO SOUTH KOREA |
||||||
|
Products |
Volume (kg) |
Value (Thousand US$) |
||||
|
Jan-Jun 2017 |
Jan-Jun 2018 |
Variation (%) |
Jan-Jun 2017 |
Jan-Jun 2018 |
Variation (%) |
|
|
Processed squid |
12,111,006 |
14,362,897 |
18.6 |
54,409 |
79,400 |
45.9 |
|
Fresh/live/chilled octopus |
5,440,526 |
3,903,957 |
-28.2 |
66,899 |
57,076 |
-14.7 |
|
Processed octopus |
3,544,086 |
3,589,061 |
1.3 |
18,084 |
24,090 |
33.2 |
|
Frozen/smoked salted squid |
720,635 |
582,558 |
-19.2 |
16,146 |
14,935 |
-7.5 |
|
Frozen/dried/salted octopus |
390,669 |
118,945 |
-69.6 |
1,815 |
734 |
-59.6 |
|
Total |
22,206,922 |
22,557,418 |
1.6 |
157,353 |
176,235 |
12.0 |
|
(Source: ITC) |
||||||
(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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