After decreasing by 17% in 2021, mainly due to the Zero Covid policy in the China market, since the beginning of 2022 until now, exports to the market have recovered strongly. In January 2022, exports to China & Hong Kong increased by 56%, February exports outperformed with a growth of 138% compared to the same period last year.
In which, in the first two months of the year, Vietnam seafood exports to China more than doubled over the same period, reaching 145 million USD, accounting for 85%. Exports to Hong Kong increased by 46% to 25 million USD, accounting for 15%.
Importers in China and Hong Kong both boosted their orders of Vietnamese pangasius, crab and cephalopod products in the past two months. As for tuna, consumption was only strong in Hong Kong, with a growth of 56%, while China had almost no orders for Vietnamese tuna in the first 2 months of the year.
Although the growth was more modest than other products, shrimp still accounted for a high proportion of 23.4% of the total seafood export to this market, with nearly 40 million USD, up 13%. In which, China consumed nearly 28 million USD, while shrimp exports to Hong Kong reached 12 million USD.
Seafood exports to China & HK in 2021 hit the lowest level in 5 years
Vietnam seafood exports to China & Hong Kong in 2021 decreased by nearly 17% to more than 1.1 billion USD, the lowest level in the past 5 years. The main reason is China's Zero Covid policy, which has caused trade and import clearance activities to be stalled and jammed for most of the past year.
The 3 main products exported to China last year include shrimp (accounting for 36%), pangasius (39%) and other marine fish (14%); these products were all significantly reduced in export value to this market. In which, pangasius exports reached nearly 450 million USD. Shrimp exports to China & Hong Kong reached 412 million USD, dropped by 22%. In which, exports to China decreased by 22%, especially to Hong Kong fell 18%. China has reduced imports of giant tiger prawn from Vietnam by 14%, while imports of whiteleg shrimp still increased by nearly 6%.
Anchovy accounted for a significant proportion of seafood exports to China (6.4%, reaching 63 million USD), but in the past year, there has been a sharp decrease of 37%. In the first two months of this year, anchovy exports continued to decrease by 16%.
However, in 2021, China has sharply increased the import of some fish species. For example, mackerel imports increased by nearly 10 times, yellow stripe scad sales increased by 42%, fish sauce increased by 40%, herring increased by 108%...
Crab exports to China in 2021 fell 23% while exports to Hong Kong increased sharply by 116%.
Complied by Phuong Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK have shown positive signs in the first months of 2026. While the UK’s overall tuna imports from the world declined, imports from Vietnam increased strongly, indicating that there is still room for Vietnam to expand its market share. However, behind this growth, competitive pressure remains intense, especially as the UK continues to be a major market for established suppliers such as Ecuador, Mauritius, and Ghana.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Biofloc technology is being piloted in several rice–shrimp farming models in Ca Mau Province, showing initial positive results in controlling pond environments, improving shrimp seed quality, and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Alongside the development of high-tech shrimp farming, Ha Tinh Province is accelerating the cultivation of high-value freshwater aquatic species, with red tilapia emerging as an effective and sustainable farming model.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
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
