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) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, cumulative shrimp exports from the beginning of the year through November reached $4.3 billion, up 21% year-on-year, continuing to serve as the primary growth driver of the entire seafood sector. In November alone, export turnover amounted to $393 million, up 14%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, the fisheries sector continued to stand out as a bright spot in Ca Mau’s economic landscape, maintaining positive growth in both output and value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of November 2025, Vietnam’s total pangasius export turnover had exceeded the $2 billion threshold, registering a 9% compared with the same period in 2024. In November alone, pangasius exports reached $195 million, also posting a 9% increase year-on-year, underscoring a stable recovery trajectory for the sector in the final months of the year.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
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