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) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, cumulative shrimp exports from the beginning of the year through November reached $4.3 billion, up 21% year-on-year, continuing to serve as the primary growth driver of the entire seafood sector. In November alone, export turnover amounted to $393 million, up 14%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, the fisheries sector continued to stand out as a bright spot in Ca Mau’s economic landscape, maintaining positive growth in both output and value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of November 2025, Vietnam’s total pangasius export turnover had exceeded the $2 billion threshold, registering a 9% compared with the same period in 2024. In November alone, pangasius exports reached $195 million, also posting a 9% increase year-on-year, underscoring a stable recovery trajectory for the sector in the final months of the year.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
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