It is estimated that seafood exports to the US in May 2021 will continue to go ahead and it is forecast that exports from June will accrete more strongly after this market is fully opened from May 20, 2021.
Processed shrimp and pangasius fillets have the highest turnover
In April 2021, exports of key products to the US market rose. In which, shrimp exports increased by 47% to 63.5 million USD, pangasius export turnover grew the most (up 136%) to 30.4 million USD, tuna value soared by 56% to over 31 million USD, squid exports , octopus increased by 83%...
In the first 4 months of 2021, shrimp exports to the US brought about 198 million USD, up nearly 25% and accounting for 21% of Vietnam's total seafood exports. Pangasius export turnover to this market fetched 102 million USD, up 37% over the same period and accounting for 21% of total pangasius exports. Meanwhile, the US accounted for nearly 42% of Vietnam's total tuna exports with $94.5 million in the first four months of the year, up 15% over the same period last year.
Shrimp accounted for the highest proportion in seafood export value to the US, with 41%, pangasius 21%, marine products 38%.
The US is leading the import markets of Vietnam's shrimp, pangasius, tuna and crab and is the second largest importer of marine fish.
In the first 4 months of this year, there were about 220 seafood export enterprises to the US, of which 67 companies had export sales of 1 million USD or more. The top 3 enterprises with a dominant proportion include Soc Trang Seafood Joint Stock Company (accounting for over 13% of turnover), Vinh Hoan Joint Stock Company, accounting for 8.6%, and Bien Dong Seafood Company accounting for about 7.0%. The top 10 exporters to the US (table below) account for nearly 60% of the country's total seafood export value to this market.
Top 10 seafood products (according to HS codes in the table below) accounted for 80% of seafood export value to the US. Of which, processed whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp made up the highest proportion with 21.2%, followed by frozen pangasius fillet accounted for nearly 21%, yellowfin tuna loin/steak/cube for 8.9%, fresh whiteleg shrimp for 7%, breaded shrimp for 6.1%, frozen marine fish fillet 4.6%, shrimp sushi 4.2%, canned tuna 2.5%, PD whiteleg shrimp 2.5%...
Consumption and import of seafood will skyrocket in the second half of the year
The widespread and rapid deployment of vaccines against Covid-19 in the US and the government's economic stimulus package boosted the US economy to 6.5% growth in the first quarter of 2021. Therefore, seafood orders increased not only in the retail sector but also in the food service, restaurant and hotel segments.
By May 20, 2021, all 50 states of the United States have reopened gradually, factories are operating normally again, many large supermarkets of retailers no longer restrict customers, tourism and beaches are open to guests... These are signs of a stronger increase in US seafood consumption and imports from now until the end of the year.
According to statistics of the US Department of Agriculture, in the first quarter of 2021, the US imported 696 thousand tons of seafood of all kinds, worth nearly 5.5 billion USD, up 8% in both volume and value over the same period last year. In 2020, the US imported 2.8 million tons of seafood, worth $21.4 billion, up 2.5% in volume, but down 2.5% in value compared to 2019.
With the current growth momentum and recovery, it is forecasted that seafood imports to the US market in 2021 will increase by 6% in volume to 2.9 million tons, and in value by 9% to US$23.3 billion, higher than import levels of the years before the Covid pandemic. The demand for tourism and restaurant dining, which has been "suppressed" for a long time, will "explode" in the coming months, so the import value will increase more strongly than the volume. Therefore, in the near future, the US will be the target market for exporting countries, such as Vietnam, India, Ecuador, Indonesia and Thailand.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
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