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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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