In the second quarter of 2020, cephalopod exports to Korea continued to decrease, but the rate of reduction was lower than that of the first quarter. In the second quarter of 2020, the export value of squid and octopus to South Korea reached US$57.6 million, down 1.9% compared to the second quarter of 2019. In particular, in June 2020, exports to Korea grew positively after 3 consecutive months of decline. Vietnam's squid and octopus exports to Korea increased by 23.5% in June 2020, but due to a decrease in the previous months, the export of squid and octopus to this market still decreased by 15% in the first 6 months of 2020 reached over US$102 million.
The decrease in export prices and demand for consumption due to the Covid-19 epidemic was one of the factors affecting the export of Vietnamese octopus and squid to South Korea in the first half of 2020. In the second quarter of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic in South Korea was less stressful than the first quarter, so the export of squid and octopus to this market avoids further decline.
In the structure of Vietnamese cephalopod products exported to Korea, octopus still dominated with 69.1%, squid made up for 30.9%. In the first half of 2020, the export of squid to South Korea rose by 4.6% while that of octopus fell by 21.6%. Smoked, dried squid (HS03 code) recorded an increase of 13.3%, the best growth among squid and octopus products exported to Korea. Processed squid exports to Korea also increased slightly by 1%. While the export value of processed octopus and dried/salted/live/fresh/frozen octopus decreased by 24% and 22% respectively over the same period in 2019.
South Korea mainly imports squid and octopus products from Vietnam such as peeled dried squid, frozen processed squid, frozen sushi squid, frozen cleaned cuttlefish, frozen pine cut cuttlefish, and frozen cleaned whole octopus, frozen cut octopus, frozen processed octopus ... In the first 6 months of 2020, prices of squid products exported from Vietnam to Korea ranged from US$9.7 to US$13.9/kg, that of octopus ranged from US$6 - US$6.4/kg.
Currently, Vietnam enjoys an export tax of 0% to Korea for live/fresh/ and frozen octopus products (HS030751 and HS030759). Dried/salted/live/fresh/frozen octopus also accounted for the highest proportion of the total squid and octopus products exported to Korea.
According to ITC data, in the first half of 2020, South Korea imported squid and octopus from 9 suppliers with an import value of over US$126 million, down 13% over the same period in 2019. China was the largest supplier of squid and octopus to South Korea. Among the main suppliers, South Korea increased imports of squid and octopus from Indonesia and India, imports from the remaining suppliers declined.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(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 - 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