In May 2024, tuna exports soared by 36% to over US$95 million, driven by robust demand for canned tuna, which jumped by 18%, and pouched tuna, which skyrocketed over 3.5 times higher. Frozen tuna loin/phlle exports also surged by 25%, while frozen whole tuna exports soared by over seven times compared to May 2023. Cumulative tuna exports for the first five months of 2024 reached nearly US$397 million, up 25% from the same period in 2023.
Crab and swimming crab exports also witnessed impressive growth, climbing by nearly 92% to over USD 26 million in May. This surge was primarily fueled by a more than twofold increase in crab exports. The two largest markets for Vietnamese crab (China and Japan) both increase imports. China emerges as the top destination for Vietnamese live crab, with imports soaring by 11 times compared to May 2023. Meanwhile, Japan primarily imports processed snow crab finished products, including snow crab meat, shelled snow crab, snow crab claws, and a small portion of processed freshwater crab.
Pangasius exports rose by 10%, while exports of cephalopod, and other fish species all experience modest growth of 3% in May. Cumulative pangasius exports for the first five months of the year reached nearly US$755 million, up slightly by 3% from the same period in 2023. On the other hand, marine finfish exports declined by 3% to US$742 million, while cephalopod exports reached US$236 million, down nearly 2% compared to May 2023.
Despite a slight dip in May, shrimp exports maintain a positive growth trajectory for the year, increasing by 7% to USD 1.3 billion for the first five months.
While some markets have yet to experience a full rebound, major export destinations are showing signs of gradual recovery in both demand and import prices. Seafood exports to the US, Japan, the EU, and South Korea all record positive growth in May, ranging from 5% to 26%. Notably, exports to China falls by 8% compared to the same period. By the end of May, the US remains the top destination, with seafood imports from Vietnam reaching US$635 million, representing a 13% growth. Exports to Japan, China, South Korea, and the EU saw more modest increases of 3-4% compared to May 2023.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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