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) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(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.
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