Processed cuttlefish and squid products were imported most, accounting for 78% of import value. In the first 3 months of the year, Japan sharply increased the import of processed squid products with more than 10 thousand tons with worth US$60.7 million, up nearly 17% in volume and 15% in value. Meanwhile, imports of processed octopus fell by 19% in volume and nearly 13% in value, with nearly 1.5 thousand tons, worth US$15.3 million and accounting for nearly 20% of total imported cephalopod. Frozen squid products accounted for only 2% of total imports, although Japan tended to increase imports of this product with a rise of 941% in volume and 2.090% in value.
For Japan's main imported product of processed squid, Vietnam was among the top 5 largest suppliers, after China, Thailand and Peru. China accounted for a dominant proportion in this segment with 89% of Japanese import value while Vietnam only accounted for less than 2%. In the first quarter of 2019, Japan increased the import of processed squid from China and Peru, while imports from Vietnam and Spain fell.
Imports of processed squid from Thailand declined sharply in volume (down 22%). However, export value still rose (up 4.8%) due to the average import price increasing by 38% from US$21 to 29/kg. Processed squid products from Thailand and Spain exported to Japan are priced at an average of US $ 21-29 / kg, significantly higher than China, Vietnam and Peru (US$4.5-6.5/kg). Along with Thailand, Vietnam's average import price also increased by 12% from US$4.7 in the first quarter of 2018 to US$5.3/kg in the first quarter of 2019, while the import price from 3 other supplier decreased. However, it was not a good sign as the price increase may cause import demand to fall, with the fact that the volume of squid imported from Vietnam has declined by 22%.
For processed octopus products, Vietnam closely followed China with a market share of 44% (China accounted for 47%). The average price of processed octopus from China was US$2 higher than products from Vietnam at US$9/kg. The export volume from those 2 countries to Japan was equivalent (nearly 700 tons). However, the export value of China (US$7.2 million) was higher than that of Vietnam with US$6.7 million.
In the first quarter of this year, there were 48 Vietnamese cephalopod companies exporting to Japan with various products such as frozen whole squid, squid sliced cut, frozen fillet squid, frozen cuttlefish, cuttlefish pine cut, frozen cuttlefish comb cut, processed cuttlefish, sushi squid, breaded octopus ...
|
Cephalopods imports of Japan, QI/2019 Volume: tonne, value: million USD) |
||||||||
|
HS code |
Products |
QI/2018 |
QI/2019 |
Variation |
Proportion |
|||
|
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Value |
||
|
Cephalopods - Total |
10,512 |
70.550 |
11,684 |
77.576 |
11.2 |
10.0 |
100 |
|
|
160554 |
Processed cuttle fish and squid |
8,670 |
52.989 |
10,114 |
60.711 |
16.7 |
14.6 |
78.3 |
|
160555 |
Processed octupus |
1,834 |
17.490 |
1,488 |
15.310 |
-18.9 |
-12.5 |
19.7 |
|
030749 |
Frozen cuttle fish and squid |
8 |
71 |
82 |
1.555 |
941.4 |
2090.1 |
2.0 |
|
Source: ITC |
||||||||
|
Top 5 processed tuna suppliers to Japan (Volume: tonne, value: million USD) |
||||||||
|
Suppliers |
|
QI/2019 |
Variation |
Proportion(%) |
||||
|
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Value |
||
|
World |
8,670 |
52.989 |
10,114 |
60.711 |
16.7 |
14.6 |
100 |
|
|
China |
8,106 |
47.772 |
9,260 |
53.960 |
14.2 |
13.0 |
88.9 |
|
|
Thailand |
130 |
2.787 |
102 |
2.920 |
-21.7 |
4.8 |
4.8 |
|
|
Peru |
127 |
814 |
525 |
2.558 |
311.7 |
214.3 |
4.2 |
|
|
Vietnam |
284 |
1.329 |
221 |
1.161 |
-22.1 |
-12.6 |
1.9 |
|
|
Spain |
3 |
72 |
4 |
7 |
14.5 |
-90.3 |
1.9 |
|
|
Source: ITC |
||||||||
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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