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) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
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(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
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(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
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