The top 4 single import markets include China, the US, Japan, and France, accounting for more than 91% of the total crab export value.
After a decline in 2021, Vietnam's crab exports to China and Hong Kong increased in the first 3 months of 2022 reaching more than 20 million USD, up 104% over the same period. The main reason is that Vietnam's seafood processing and exporting enterprises have adapted rather well to the market's "zero Covid" policy. This high growth has made China the largest crab import market from Vietnam.
Vietnam's crab exports to Japan are also continuing to grow this quarter. The value of crab exports to this market reached nearly 19 million USD, up 18% over the same period. Japan is currently the largest importer of Vietnamese crabs in the CPTPP. And also the country that maintained the continuous growth of crab imports in the first 3 months of 2022. Meanwhile, crab exports to Australia and Singapore had a continuous decline in this quarter.
For the EU market, Vietnam's crab exports also recovered after a decline last year. However, exports to markets in the bloc are not stable. France is currently the largest crab import market of Vietnam in this market block, reaching nearly 1.7 million USD, up 38%.
In the EU crab market, Vietnamese crab exporters have to compete with products from the UK, Norway, Madagascar, China, and Indonesia, including lobster and surimi.
Notably, Vietnam's crab exports to the US grew continuously in the first 3 months of 2022. Vietnam's crab export value to this market in the first quarter of 2022 reached nearly 19 million USD, up 78% over the same period. The US has fully reopened, which has helped increase demand for crabs. In addition, increased production costs and sea transportation costs have pushed up export prices.
Crab imports to the US in the first quarter of this year decreased, mainly due to the impact of the US government's ban on importing seafood including crabs from Russia. Russia accounts for 30% of total imports of snow crab and 90% of total imports of king crab from the US. Vietnam's crab exporters can also take advantage of this opportunity to maintain exports to the US. In the first three months of this year, the US reduced imports of frozen red king crab by 9% from Russia with 3,403 tons. In March this year, the US imported 257 tons of snow crab from Russia, worth $5.8 million, down 86% in volume and 84% in value compared to March last year.
Compiled by Minh Trang
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth momentum is moderating and market divergece is becoming more pronounced, while the US and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global shrimp forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers place greater emphasis on quality, product specifications, supply consistency and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports continued to grow in August 2026, bringing total export value in the first eight months of the year to US$1.5 billion, up 10% year-on-year. August exports alone reached US$205 million, up 6%. However, market performance has become increasingly divergent, with China and Brazil posting positive growth while the U.S. continued to record a sharp decline.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$1.14 billion in August 2026, up 6.4% year on year, bringing the total for the first eight months to more than US$8.0 billion, an increase of 11.9%. Monthly export value remained above US$1 billion, but August growth was only around half the rate recorded cumulatively through the first eight months. This indicates that the eight-month result was supported significantly by stronger performance in earlier months, while market conditions are entering a less predictable period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius is attracting growing interest from Japanese seafood companies as prices of many traditional whitefish species remain high and supply becomes increasingly volatile. Notably, seafood group Kyokuyo has recently continued to feature pangasius among its priority products, highlighting its competitive pricing and stable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As Vietnam’s tilapia industry searches for new growth opportunities, venturing into brackish-water aquaculture could unlock a formidable competitive moat. Bypassing the volume-and-price bloodbath against established global heavyweights, Vietnam could differentiate itself through high-quality tilapia products tailored to specific farming conditions and value-added market segments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be a formidable stress test for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the United States. While exports to alternative markets maintain a resilient growth trajectory, the U.S market has declined significantly. In the first eight months of the year, pangasius exports to the U.S fell by nearly 14% year-on-year, with August alone recording a decline of more than 50%. The trend shows that difficulties in the U.S. market are not driven solely by weak consumer demand, but also by multiple layers of trade barriers that are intensifying simultaneously, particularly additional import tariffs, anti-dumping duties and growing protectionism for the domestic catfish industry.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan are showing positive signals in 2026, indicating that the market is opening up greater opportunities for pangasius products, particularly processed and value-added products. In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan reached US$31 million, up 20% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached approximately US$5 million, up 30%.
On July 22, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP detailing certain articles and providing measures for the organization and implementation of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. The Decree takes effect on September 5, 2026, replacing Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
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