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 |
||||||||
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
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
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn