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) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
(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.
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