VJEPA came into effect since October 1st, 2009. This has been the first free trade agreement since Vietnam became the full member of WTO and the second agreement between Vietnam and Japan after the two countries joined the AJCEP signed in 2008. VJEPA was a comprehensive agreement, including many sectors such as commercial goods and services, investment as well as business environment improvement.
Vietnam and South Korea both joined the AKFTA. Under this agreement, the two countries further opened markets through giving privileges on some commercial goods and services. In August 2012, the two sides kicked off negotiations on Vietnam – Korea Free Trade Agreement with an aim to strengthen their bilateral economic cooperation. During the official visit of Korean President to Vietnam in last September, Vietnam and South Korea agreed to further negotiations towards a conclusion of the VKFTA at a higher and comprehensive level in 2014, as well as analyse the development gap between the two economies.
The VJEPA and AKFTA, if implemented coherently, will become one of important factors to improve commercial exchanges of Vietnam with Japan and Korea.
Japan has made a huge reduction of taxes on imported agricultural and seafood products, offering opportunities for Vietnamese exporters to sell products into the market. As the result, Vietnam’s exports to Japan were boosted. In 2012, agricultural products sent to this market brought back US$285 million of revenue, two-fold higher than that of 2009.
Though shipments of agricultural and seafood products from Vietnam to Japan kept increasing in value over the recent years, they just made up of a small proportion in Japanese total imports. Korea was also a big consumer of fishery products from other producing countries, but its purchase from Vietnam accounted for only 5 percent in total import value. Therefore, Vietnamese exporters will have more opportunities to boost shipments and develop shares in these markets.
Apart from a future import tax reduction and exemption under trade agreements, Vietnam needs to call for a removal of non-tariff barriers by Japan and Korea in order to enhance sales of agricultural and seafood products to these two destinations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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