Domestic raw material satisfies 60 – 65 percent of production capacity of processing plants. Over recent years, local companies have to import raw material from other countries to ensure production and exports in order to keep jobs for thousands of workers and raise competitiveness.
Between 2009 and 2012, imports of seafood into Vietnam doubled to reach US$700 million while the Ministry of Finances proposed to increase fish import tax. This would cause many obstacles for seafood companies in the context of tough competition in the global market.
Over the past of 2 years, Vietnamese exports of marine fish products keep decreasing mainly due to lack of raw material. Cephalopod products saw a drop of 3.5 – 10.8 percent in sales abroad in the 3 straight years. In Q.I/2014, tuna got the deepest year-on-year fall of 25.6 percent among marine products.
Some years ago, Vietnamese Prime Minister approved the strategy on development of fishery industry and the planning on development of seafood processing in Vietnam by 2020. Accordingly, seafood processing is considered as the drive for other branches including fisheries, aquaculture and logistic services. The objective is to build up a modern, consistent and sustainable processing chain from pond to table along with high competitiveness in the global market by 2020.
Vietnamese seafood exports are expected to reach US$8 billion by 2015 and US$10 billion by 2020. To reach this target, Vietnam needs to import 600,000 MT of raw fish (equal to US$1.3 – 1.5 billion) by 2015 and 1 million MT (equal to US$2 – 2.5 billion) by 2020.
So far, Vietnamese seafood companies have still been grappling with many challenges, as they are facing stricter technical and trade barriers set by importing markets and strong competition from other supplying countries. These challenges become tougher due to high tax and complicated procedures to import raw fish for processing to export and fulfilling supply contracts with foreign companies. Tax on seafood imported into Vietnam is higher than that imposed in other countries in Asia, which leads to weaken their competitiveness against other exporting countries like Thailand and China. The countries facilitate seafood imports in order to protect domestic fish stocks.
Currently, Ministry of Finances reduces taxes to zero for some fish species imported into Vietnam for processing to export. However, taxes on imported main species including shrimp, tuna or cephalopods are still high. Tax on imported shrimp is at 10-15 percent, for tuna 12 – 24 percent and 10 – 17 percent for cephalopod.
On April 17, 2014, VASEP sent an Official Letter No. 75/2014/CV-VASEP to Minister of Finances, Hoang Anh Tuan, to propose a meeting between leaders of Ministry of Finances and representatives of seafood companies to discuss Association's 4 recommendations on customs and import tax procedures.
VASEP is asking Ministry of Finances to consider reduction of tax to zero percent for some key fish species in short supply.
Previously, VASEP's recommendation on import tax reduction was accepted by Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) through MARD's Official Letter No. 3552/BNN-CB of November 16, 2011.
(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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn