Squid continued to be the key export item of Vietnam in the first half of 2018, accounting for 55% of the total export value; while octopus accounted for 45%. Of that, exports of dried/salted/fresh/live/frozen octopus (HS code 03) remained to account for the highest proportion of 36%; followed by fresh/live/frozen squid item (HS code 03), accounting for 30%.
Compared with the same period in 2017, exports of squid products decreased, while those of octopus products increased. The export value of processed octopus (HS code 16) increased by 51%, followed by dried/grilled squid (HS code 03) with 40%. Shipments of live/fresh/frozen squid (HS code 03) fell by 17.5%.
South Korea
In July 2018, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to South Korea fell by 3% compared with July 2017, reaching US$20 million. However, thanks to the continuous growth in the first months of the year, the total export turnover in the first 7 months of the year reached more than US$23 million, up 13% over the same period in 2017. South Korea continued to be the largest importing market of Viet Nam, accounting for 36.8% of the total export value of Vietnamese cephalopod to markets.
Japan
After the recovery in June, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to Japan in July decreased by 18%, reaching US$2 million; the figure in the first 7 months of the year amounted to US$80 million, up 3.5%.
Vietnam’s squid exports to Japan decreased by 9% over the same period last year. Meanwhile, exports of octopus products increased by 34%. This year, the proportion of Vietnam’s octopus exports to Japan tended to increase.
Japan continued to rank the second in top buyers of Vietnamese cephalopod, accounting for 22.9%. Recently, the Japanese economy is on the trend of recovery and the yen has increased, which facilitated exports of Vietnamese octopus to the market.
The EU
Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to the EU in July 2018 reached US$7 million, down 41% compared with July 2017. Therefore, the figure in the first seven months of this year was down 27% to hit US$46 million.
This year, exports of Vietnamese octopus to the EU increased by 105%. Meanwhile, exports of squid products to the market fell by 39%.
In July 2018, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to the three largest importing markets in the bloc, including Italy Spain and France had been on the recovery.
ASEAN
This year, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to ASEAN in July 2018 decreased by 12.4%, reaching US$6.8 million. However, thanks to the good growth in the previous months, the total export value in the first seven months of this year increased by 20% to nearly US$46 million.
Of that, squid is the main export item of Vietnam to ASEAN. The export value of Vietnamese squid to this market accounted for 97.3% of the total cephalopod sales to the region; that of octopus accounted for 2.7%. Among the items exported to ASEAN, dried/grilled squid products were the most popular in this market.
Thailand held as the large importing market of Vietnamese octopus in ASEAN with the proportion of 75% total cephalopod exports to ASEAN. Vietnam was currently the second largest supplier of cephalopod to Thailand (behind China), making up 25%.
In the coming time, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports forecasted to increase slightly.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(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.
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