After a strong increase of 23% in November, seafood exports in December continued to increase by 29% to over US$940 million. In December 2021, exports of all key products increased sharply by 6-110%.
Thanks to a breakthrough increase in December, with a growth rate of about 80% to about USD 245 million, pangasius exports for the whole year in 2021 exceeded expectations with over USD 1.6 billion, up 10%.
Shrimp exports in December increased by 10% to about 325 million USD. By the end of the year, shrimp exports reached 3.88 billion USD, up 4%. Tuna exports increased by 55% in December to USD 85.5 million, bringing the whole year result to USD 757 million. Cephalopod exports in December reached over USD 60 million, up 10%, accordingly, the whole year exports reached over USD 600 million.
Seafood exports to China in December rebounded the most, increasing by 90% to over $170 million. However, because exports to this market continuously decreased from March to October, the total export value in 2021 still decreased 14% compared to 2020 to reach 1.17 billion USD. China only accounts for 13% of Vietnam's seafood exports, compared to 16% in 2020.
The US still accounts for the highest proportion, 23% of Vietnam's seafood exports with over 2 billion USD in 2021, an increase of 26% compared to 2020. Particularly in December 2021, seafood exports to the US reached 176 million USD, up 32% over the same period in 2020.
In 2021, seafood exports to the EU market account for 12% with over 1 billion USD, up 12% compared to 2020. Last month, seafood exports to the EU also increased sharply by 26% to reach 109 million USD.
Exports to CPTPP countries in 2021 have earned nearly 2.2 billion USD, almost equivalent to 2020. In December alone, exports to this market block reached 209 million USD. While exports to Japan continued to decline by 8% in December, exports to Australia still grew by 13%. Exports to Japan in 2021 reached 1.3 billion USD, down over 6%, while exports to Australia reached 265 million USD, up 6% compared to 2020.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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
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