The Covid pandemic caused a sharp increase in the cost of sea transport to the European and American markets and the shortage of containers, which significantly affected Vietnam's seafood export activities. Among export items, shrimp had the highest sales, accounting for 38% while marine fish (except tuna) had the most positive growth, up over 14% and accounting for 23% of seafood exports. Ranked third is pangasius with 344 million USD, up slightly 3% and accounting for 19%. Tuna exports increased slightly by 3% to 344.2 million USD, while the export of squid and octopus increased by nearly 8% to 116 million USD.
While Covid-19 continues to affect exports of high-priced fresh frozen seafood products such as fresh fish, squid, frozen octopus, and tiger shrimp, the exports of canned seafood products, dry, surimi, fish sauce ... have the potential for strong growth in the first quarter of this year.
In the first quarter of 2021, Vietnam exported seafood to 140 markets, of which the US market was still the pioneer in both turnover and export growth, accounting for nearly 19% of Vietnam's total seafood exports. Next is Japan with 17.6%, ranked third is the Chinese market with 11%.
Demand for seafood in the retail and service segments both tends to increase in major markets such as the US, EU and China's resolution of the congestion of import ports since March has had a positive impact. to Vietnam's seafood export activities to these markets.
How will the new Covid wave affect Vietnam's seafood production and export in the second quarter and the whole year 2021? Does Vietnam have the opportunity and room to increase exports to markets when Asian seafood producing and processing countries are heavily affected by the Covid epidemic?
We would like to invite the businesses and readers to register the Report on Vietnam Seafood Export in Quarter I/2021 to get a detailed information and satistic on sales, prices and export trends of Vietnamese seafood products in the first 3 months of the year, assessment of supply-demand of markets and forecast of production and export of seafood in the second quarter and the following months of 2021.
See table of content, list of figures and tables in the Report here.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(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.
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