In October 2020, among the top 5 main importing markets, excluding the EU, cephalopod exports to the remaining markets such as Korea, Japan, ASEAN, and China lifted. China was still the the most stable importer for Vietnamese cephalopod in the first 10 months of this year. After an increase in September, export of cephalopod to the EU slipped in October due to a decrease in exports to Italy and Germany. Total exports of Vietnam cephalopod in the first 10 months of this year declined due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Squid and cuttlefish exports accounted for 54.4%, octopus sales made up 45.6%. In the first 10 months of this year, squid export value jumped while octopus turnover slumped. The export of processed octopus (HS code 6) dropped the most by nearly 26%. Dried/roasted squid (HS code 03) still got positive growth of 32%, reaching $105.7 million. Exports of other processed squid (HS code 16) and fresh/frozen squid (HS code 03) decreased by 4% and 8%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2019.
South Korea was still the largest import market for Vietnamese octopus and squid, with proportion of 41.5%. Vietnamese cephalopod exports to South Korea had been rising continuously from June to October this year. In October, the export of this item to South Korea hiked by 14% to US$24.9 million, but due to the decrease in the previous months, the total exports to this market still fell by 1% in the first 10 months of the year, reaching US$188.6 million.
The decrease in export prices and consumption demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic were affecting the export of Vietnamese cephalopod to South Korea in the first 10 months of 2020. Vietnam's squid and octopus exports to the South Korean market has been showing signs of an increase in recent months.
Japan ranked second in Vietnamese cephalopod imports, accounting for 22%. Exports to Japan in the first 10 months of 2020 reached nearly US$100 million, down 16% over the same period in 2019. Exports to Japan had been declining continuously from May to September before slightly recovering in October.
The exports of cephalopod to the EU from March to July this year declined sharply due to the impact of the IUU yellow card from EU, plus the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic, which reduced demand. However, the exports to this market showed signs of recovery in August and September, then went down in October. In October 2020, the exports to the EU market reached 5.9 million USD, down 8.5% compared to October 2019. In the first 10 months of this year, total exports of this item to the EU reached 38.4 million USD, down 30.6% over the same period in 2019.
China was the 5th largest importer for Vietnamese cephalopod, accounting for 8%. Exports of squid and octopus to China in October 2020 soared by 103% to over US$6 million. In the first 10 months of the year, the total exports to China reached nearly US$37 million, up 56.3% over the same period in 2019. Exports to China recorded the best growth rate in the first 10 months of this year.
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic which has not yet been controlled worldwide, the supply of raw materials has decreased, the demand for cephalopod imports of the world and the exports from Vietnam are expected to be lower. It is estimated that the exports of Vietnamese cephalopod in 2020 will reach about US$566 million, down about 2% compared to 2019.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Hai Phong's aquaculture sector is accelerating the adoption of high technologies in aquaculture to adapt to climate change, with red tilapia and tilapia identified as the key cultured species for priority development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion in June 2026, up 21.0% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2026 totaled nearly US$5.8 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared with the same period last year. Exports to China and Hong Kong continued to accelerate, while shipments to the United States rebounded strongly in June. In contrast, exports to the EU, Japan, and the Middle East remained sluggish or recorded slight declines.
(vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, driven not only by growing market opportunities but also by its ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety, and traceability. In practice, tilapia farming in Vietnam is not a spontaneous or loosely regulated activity; rather, it operates under a comprehensive legal and technical framework covering the entire value chain—from hatcheries and farming to processing and exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 16, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province announced that the locality has established a farming area code for nearly 30,400 hectares of mud crab aquaculture and granted export facility codes to five enterprises eligible to export mud crab officially to markets such as China, Cambodia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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