Sharp surge in may, steep decline in june
Month by month, Vietnam’s seafood exports to the U.S showed significant growth in March, April and particularly May 2025, which surged b 61% increase year-on-year, reaching a peak of over 234 million USD, the highest monthly export value in the first half of the year. However, June saw a sharp decline of nearly 18% compared to the same period last year, falling to just USD 131 million.
The three key product groups - shrimp, pangasius, and tuna - continued to drive Vietnam’s seafood exports to the U.S, contributing over 700 million USD in the first six months, accounting for 77% of the total export value.
Shrimp exports reached more than 341 million USD, up nearly 13% year-on-year. Notably, shrimp exports soared by 66% in May but then plunged by 36.5% in June.
Pangasius exports recorded more stable growth, reaching 175 million USD in the first half - an increase of nearly 10%. After a slight decline in March and April, pangasius rebounded strongly in May and maintained growth in June, indicating steady demand for this product despite market volatility.
For tuna, export revenue for the first six months reached nearly 184 million USD, a 6.5% increase. However, similar to shrimp, tuna exports saw a strong increase in May (up 37.5%) followed by a sharp drop of over 40% in June.
U.S loses top spot due to tariff instability
Once the leading market for Vietnamese seafood imports for many years, the U.S currently accounts for 17% of Vietnam’s seafood export value in the first half of 2025. Notably, the U.S. has been surpassed by China, which imported 1.1 billion USD worth of Vietnamese seafood, a remarkable 45% increase compared to the same period in 2024, securing the top position.
This shift is an inevitable consequence of unstable tariff policies. Since April 2025, the Trump administration has repeatedly used countervailing tariffs as a trade negotiation tool, issuing a series of announcements and frequent changes regarding tariff rates, implementation dates and affected entities.
Initially, the additional tariffs were cheduled to take effect from July 9, 2025. However, just before this deadline, President Trump unexpectedly announced a delay in enforcement until August 1st. More strikingly, both the timing and the rates have fluctuated constantly - from a global 10% rate to much higher rates for specific countries, such as 36% for Thailand and 32% for Indonesia.
These rapid changes have created an unprecedentedly uncertain trade environment, severely impacting production planning, contract agreements and delivery schedules for businesses in both the U.S. and exporting countries.
The constant imposition, postponement, and revision of tariffs have left U.S. importers in a state of anxiety, unable to accurately calculate import costs. Meanwhile, Vietnamese exporters also face difficulties in adjusting prices, delivery timelines and planning long-term orders.
For an industry highly dependent on seasonality and logistics costs like seafood, this trade instability further increases financial risks and causes ripple effects throughout the supply chain - from farming and processing to transportation and payment.
Reshaping strategies to adapt
Amid the emergence of a new, unpredictable global trade order, Vietnamese seafood enterprises have no choice but to proactively restructure their strategies. Several strategic directions are being prioritized, including:
1. Market Diversification: Reducing overreliance on the U.S. market and expanding presence in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) such as CPTPP, the EU, and South Korea.
2. Supply Chain Optimization: Minimizing additional costs and logistics risks through better supply chain efficiency and resilience.
3. Emphasis on Transparent Traceability and Origin Verification: This is a critical factor as countervailing tariff policies increasingly tied to strict origin requirements. Enterprises must ensure the entire supply chain - from raw materials to processing and export - is closely monitored and fully documented to prove legal origin and avoid accusations of “tax evasion” or “illegal transshipment.”
4. Technology and Digital Transformation: Leveraging electronic traceability and smart order management systems to enhance responsiveness to policy and market fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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