In the first half of 2021, Vietnam's seafood exports reached 4.1 billion USD, up nearly 15% over the same period last year thanks to stable production and strong recovery in demand in many markets. Entering the third quarter, the Covid-19 epidemic broke out strongly in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City and 19 southern provinces caused seafood exports in the third quarter to decrease by 15% over the same period last year to 2.07 billion USD.
Accumulated in the first 9 months of the year, seafood exports still maintained a growth rate of 2.8%, reaching nearly USD 6.2 billion, of which shrimp accounted for nearly 45%, pangasius 17.4%, and tuna accounted for 8.4 %, cephalopod molluscs accounted for 6.6%, bivalve molluscs and crabs accounted for a total of 3.5%, other fish accounted for 19.4%.
The extent of epidemic impacts in regions/localities is reflected in the decline of each commodity: Exports of pangasius and some marine products such as other marine fish, cephalopod molluscs decreased more sharply than shrimp and tuna.
Seafood exports in the first 9 months of the year to some major markets and groups such as the EU, the US and the Middle East still maintained positive growth thanks to good export results in the first 7 months, while exports to China, Japan and ASEAN decreased markedly.
From August 2021, seafood exports to all major markets decreased because domestic processing production was disrupted, seafood companies hardly maintained production in the context of disease risks and other economic conditions. required social distancing to prevent epidemics. Exports to other markets decreased from 14-36%, in September continued to decrease from 3-51%, except for the US market, which increased slightly by 3%.
To what extent will seafood exports recover in the fourth quarter? Export turnover by the end of 2021 will reach the target higher than 2020?
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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