Growth mometum driven by Asia
South Korea remains the largest market, importing over 122 million USD worth of squid and octopus from Vietnam (36% of total exports), up 7% year - on - year. Popular products include cleaned cuttlefish, frozen processed octopus and whole frozen octopus.
The CPTPP bloc also recorded strong growth of 20% with exports reaching over 96 million USD. Japan made a significant contribution which contributed 83 million USD in imports (up 21%). Products such as MA sushi squid, breaded fried squid and frozen octopus are highly favored by Japanese consumers.
China and Hong Kong combined for a total of 34 million USD, up 15% - with China alone surging by 87% in June 2025. Thailand also stood out with a 37% increase, driven by strong demand for boiled frozen octopus, dried squid and button squid.
Conversely, some markets like Taiwan, Australia and Hong Kong experienced declines, reflecting intense competition, certain technical and trade barriers.
Challenges Facing Enterprises
- Procedural and policy issues: Difficulties in obtaining Certificates of Origin (C/O) in accordance with Decree 31/2018/ND-CP have caused delays for many export shipments. Additionally, regulations on imported raw materials and food safety inspection procedures remain inconsistent, causing bottlenecks when converting the intended use of imported materials.
- IUU Yellow Card: The EU’s IUU yellow card continues to impact seafood exports, including squid and octopus, limiting competitiveness in this key market.
- U.S countervailing duties and risks: The potential imposition of U.S. countervailing duties of up to 20% is a significant concern. Vague regulations regarding product origin (transshipment, 40-20-40 rules, etc) also pose risks of high tariffs or import bans.
- U.S. MMPA regulations: The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has not yet recognized Vietnam’s marine mammal conservation measures, including fishing methods related to squid harvesting. If Vietnam fails to meet equivalency standards, exports to the U.S could be banned starting January 1, 2026.
Strategies for businesses amid market volatility
Vietnamese squid and octopus exporters should proactively diversify their markets with Asian countries such as South Korea, Japan and Thailand serving as stable pillars. Enterprises should also seize opportunities in other CPTPP member markets.
Additionally, enterprises need to standardize documentation and processes, investing in quality management and raw material traceability systems to ensure transparency and meet origin requirements - especially as technical barriers tighten.
Additionally, enterprises should prepare for worst - case scenarios in the U.S market, including the potential imposition of tariffs, by reassessing the proportion of exports to the U.S, adjusting market strategies and revising long-term contracts if necessary.
Finally, to meet the increasingly stringent environmental and traceability requirements from the EU and U.S, enterprises must strengthen collaboration with fishermen and invest in transparent traceability systems to ensure sustainable market access.
(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.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 - 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