From 2014 to 2018, Japan's surimi imports ranged from US $ 486.3 million to US $ 559.2 million. In which the import value in 2017 was the lowest at US $ 486.3 million and that of reached the highest of US$559.2 million in 2014. After decreasing continuously from 2014 to 2017, the import value of surimi into this market increased continuously from 2017 to now.
Norway is the largest surimi supplier to Japan, accounting for 19.8% of the total import value of this item into Japan. Followed by three major suppliers (India, Thailand and China), accounting for 15.8%, 14.8% and 9.2% of market share, respectively. Vietnam is the fifth largest supplier, accounting for 8.5%.
In the first 7 months of this year, imports of surimi into Japan reached US$334.3 million, up 11.5% over the same period in 2018. Among the top 5 main suppliers, imports from Norway and Vietnam grew by 2 digits while imports from Thailand, India, China increased slightly.
The average import price of surimi into Japan was US $ 3.8/kg in June 2019, higher than the previous two years due to high demand from the US and the EU. Japanese surimi processors are facing difficulties due to rising import prices, escalating logistics and labor costs. It is expected that in the last months of this year, surimi demand of Japan will continue to increase.
Japan was the fourth largest surimi importer of Vietnam, accounting for 11.8% of Vietnam's total export value of Vietnamese surimi to markets. In the first 7 months of 2019, Vietnamese surimi exports to Japan were not stable, the export value of this item to Japan slid in February, June and July while sharply increasing in January, Marh, April and May.
In July 2019, Vietnamese surimi exports to Japan reached US$ 1.9 million, down 44.8%. In the first 7 months of this year, the export value reached US$ 21.6 million, up 5.5% over the same period in 2018.
As of July 2019, Vietnamese surimi exports to Japan were not stable due to the high input costs for domestic production. Therefore, the export price of Vietnamese surimi products was still higher than the similar products of other competitors in Japanese market such as China, Thailand ...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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