Vietnam is taking swift and strategic action to safeguard its seafood industry in response to the US's 46% reciprocal tariff, as officials urge local producers to stay calm, stay the course, and stay competitive.
The tariff announcement, made on April 3 as part of a broader U.S. review covering over 180 economies, has prompted a flurry of high-level engagement. Just one day later, Party General Secretary To Lam held a phone conversation with U.S. President Donald J. Trump, advocating early bilateral talks to reach a zero-tariff pact that preserves trade momentum between the two nations.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 6 called for calm and strategic thinking. He urged provinces and enterprises not to panic but to seize the moment as an opportunity to accelerate economic restructuring, diversify markets, and strengthen long-term resilience.
In light of ongoing diplomatic negotiations, the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, has advised coastal provinces and the Mekong Delta to maintain production stability. Officials warn of premature harvesting or scaling down of operations, which could disrupt the supply chain and threaten industry-wide growth targets.
Provinces have been instructed to monitor local aquaculture operations closely and communicate transparent market updates to both producers and businesses to ensure confidence and continuity.
Technical support and guidance on sustainable aquaculture practices are being prioritised to reduce production costs, enhance quality, and ensure traceability, a key factor in avoiding origin fraud accusations and boosting competitiveness.
Authorities are also preparing contingency strategies, including redirecting export flows to high-growth markets such as China, the Republic of Korea, the EU, and Japan, while scouting for new trade opportunities.
Localities are encouraged to strengthen production linkages, streamline distribution channels, and help processors stockpile raw materials, setting the stage for businesses to fast-track deliveries in the next one to three months.
At the same time, efforts to boost domestic consumption are underway, with producers urged to create consumer-friendly products and forge stronger ties with supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels.
Authorities will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide timely updates to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment to guide effective production policies in response to the evolving US trade policy.
In 2024, Vietnam’s seafood exports exceeded 10 billion USD, with key buyers including China, the US, Japan, the EU, and the Republic Korea. The momentum continued in the first quarter of 2025, with a value of 2.29 billion USD, rising 18.1% year-on-year./.
Source: VietnamPlus
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
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