According to the Institute for Policy and Strategy of Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD), Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit exports to TPP member states have grown steadily in recent years. Thanh long (dragon fruit) has made its way to New Zealand and Australia, and litchi, logan and mango to the US.
Vietnam’s vegetable and fruit shipments to Pacific Rim nations have amounted to some US$200 million, accounting for 10% of the total.
IPSARD said tariff cuts and exemptions under the TPP agreement will be of great help for Vietnam to boost exports to other TPP member states. Japan, the US. and Mexico will emerge as potential markets for Vietnam’s fresh and processed vegetables and fruits.
Under its commitments to the TPP, Japan will cut import tariffs on vegetables and fruits to zero right after the TPP agreement comes into force. Notably, Japan’s taxes on some Vietnamese items with large export volumes will drop gradually.
At present, import taxes of 40% within quota or 2,796 yen per kilogram for the volume exceeding quota are imposed on potato. Japan pledged to cut the duty for the volume exceeding the quota by 15% after six years.
Data showed that the northeast Asian country has bought an average of 200 tons of potatoes from Vietnam annually over the past three years.
Meanwhile, Japan imposes an import tariff of 17% on tea within quota, which will be lowered to zero after six years. Vietnam ships to Japan around 300 tons of tea a year.
Japan’s import tax of 33 yen per kilogram is applied to pineapple exports out of quota, and it will fall by 15% in six years. Vietnam’s pineapple shipments to the Japanese market reach an average of 40 tons per year.
IPSARD said in a report that Japan as a member of the TPP agreement will become a potential market for Vietnamese vegetables and fruits.
However, IPSARD pointed out Vietnam has yet to take steps to tap into the Japanese market. Antibiotic residues and food hygiene and safety matters have prevented Vietnam’s fresh vegetables and fruits from entering the US and Japanese markets.
Meanwhile, processed vegetables and fruits make up small proportions of the export volume. In 2013, they accounted for over 20% of the total.
Vietnam spends some US$100 million buying vegetables and fruits from other TPP members, mainly the US and Australia. The two nations will be able to penetrate deeper into the domestic market, backed by tax reductions under Vietnam’s commitments to the TPP agreement.
Vegetables and fruits imported from TPP member states strongly compete with Vietnamese farm produce in the high-end segment. In the future, fierce competition might be seen in all segments.
Product quality, design, food hygiene and safety and production cost should be improved for Vietnam’s vegetables and fruits to stay competitive, according to IPSARD report.
TPP member states, except for Mexico, currently quote import tariffs of 0%-5% on unprocessed and semi-processed seafood. Therefore, tariff reductions by TPP nations are not much meaningful to Vietnam’s exports of these products.
However, there is huge potential for exports of value-added products to the US, Japan and Canada. Given poor technology, Vietnam must focus on the processing stage of the seafood value chain.
IPSARD said in the report that the biggest challenge for Vietnam’s farm produce is that despite tax reductions, TPP members will rely on non-tariff barriers. Therefore, Vietnam’s seafood exporters will have to overcome technical barriers and meet high food hygiene and safety standards if they want to tap into key markets like the US and Japan.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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