The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) today organized a conference on surimi and fishmeal industry and the establishment of the VASEP Surimi and Fish Meal Business Club with the aim of coordinating and combining the activities of its members so that people can help each other improve the value and quality of products.
According to VASEP, surimi (Fish Paste) and fishmeal are groups of typical industries that create the circular economic chain of seafood. This industry group has contributed significantly to the country's fisheries and livestock economy.
The production and export of finely ground fish meat have been growing strongly because it is considered a popular seafood product thanks to its cost-effectiveness and is used as an important ingredient in a number of dishes, especially in Asian cuisine. In addition, consumers favor surimi because of its high nutritional value and suitable shelf life.
In the past 5 years, each year Vietnam earned US$300 million- US$420 million from exported surimi products, including marine fish surimi and pangasius surimi, accounting for 4 percent-5 percent of Vietnam's total seafood export turnover. Among hundreds of frozen, processed, fresh, live, dried seafood products, surimi is a segment having enormous potential for further development.
Fishmeal is the primary protein source in aquafeeds, and concurrently it is an important position in the specific animal feed manufacturing industry aquaculture industry and conventionally used as a livestock feed supplement.
In recent years, aquaculture has been increasing in both farming areas and output. Vietnam annually produces about 540,000 tons of fishmeal including fishmeal produced from marine fish and fishmeal produced from pangasius by-products and 200,000-280,000 tons of them are exported.
Furthermore, in the first 10 months of 2023, Vietnam exported $108 million of fishmeal of all kinds and imported about $89 million. It is estimated that this year, Vietnam's fishmeal export turnover will be $120 million-$130 million and imports will be about $100 million-$110 million. Besides, Vietnam also imports about 140,000 tons per year of fishmeal with high protein content.
Beyond frozen pangasius fillets, value-added products like fish cakes, fish balls, and peeled IQF shrimp can meet the demand for convenience in urban supermarkets and restaurants. Compared to premium products from Chile or the EU, Vietnamese seafood offers a price advantage, enabling market share expansion as Brazil prioritizes affordable imports.
The UK seafood industry celebrated a breakthrough on April 1 as Vietnam granted market access for live seafood products, opening new opportunities for growth and trade.
In 2024, Vietnam’s seafood exports exceeded 10 billion USD, with key buyers including China, the US, Japan, the EU, and the Republic Korea. The momentum continued in the first quarter of 2025, with a value of 2.29 billion USD, rising 18.1% year-on-year.
Navico, or Nam Viet Joint Stock Company, stands as one of Vietnam's pioneering enterprises in the farming, processing, and export of aquatic products, particularly pangasius (catfish). Established in 2000 in An Giang Province – the largest aquaculture hub in the Mekong Delta – Navico has solidified its position in the international market through superior product quality and a commitment to sustainable development. On April 4, 2025, Navico signed a green trade credit agreement with United Overseas Bank (Vietnam) (UOB Vietnam), marking a significant milestone in its journey toward green transformation.
According to the Board of Directors' report, IDI successfully maintained its traditional customer base in 2024 while expanding into high-potential markets, particularly the United States, benefiting from a significant reduction in anti-dumping duties.
Recently, Vietnam's La Vong fish cake was ranked number 1 in the list of the world's best white fish dishes by the world-famous culinary website Taste Atlas.
Currently, many households in the suburbs of Ca Mau City are implementing a fairly effective pangasius farming model, bringing in a stable source of income. Unlike the industrial scale in other provinces in the region, the pangasius farming model here is quite simple, low-cost, and is considered a promising direction for farmers.
Over 200,000 ha of Vietnam's shrimp farms are cultivated organically and ecologically, certified by international organizations.
Vĩnh Hoàn Corporation (stock code: VHC – HoSE) has outlined an ambitious business plan for 2025, targeting revenue of VND 13,800 billion (up 10.3% from 2024) and after-tax profit of VND 1,500 billion (up 22.3%). This follows a successful 2024, where the company recorded revenue of VND 12,513 billion (exceeding 109% of the plan) and after-tax profit of VND 1,226 billion (surpassing 123% of the VND 1,000 billion profit target). The 2025 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders is scheduled for April 24 in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss these plans.
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