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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(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.
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