In August 2023, cephalopod export turnover reached the highest level since the beginning of the year, the decline compared to the same period last year also gradually narrowed.
In the structure of exported cephalopod products, squid accounts for 57%, the remaining octopus accounts for 43%. In the first 8 months of 2023, squid export value decreased by 14%, octopus export decreased by 15% compared to the same period in 2022. Among the exported cephalopod products, processed octopus products (HS code 16) are the least downward trend with a decrease of 4% reaching 33 million USD. Other processed squid (HS 16) decreased the most by 20%, reaching 19 million USD.
Vietnam's top 7 largest cephalopod import markets include Korea, Japan, Thailand, China &HK, Italy, USA, Malaysia. Among them, in August this year, exports to Korea, China & HK, and the US recorded positive growth after many previous months of continuous negative growth.
Cephalopod exports to the Korean market in August this year recorded the first positive growth after 5 consecutive months of negative growth
Cephalopod exports to the Korean market in August this year recorded the first positive growth after 5 consecutive months of negative growth. In August 2023, exports of this product to Korea increased by 8% to reach 26 million USD. In the first 8 months of this year, the export value of cephalopod to this market reached 149 million USD, down 15% compared to the same period last year.
Cephalopod exports to China & Hong Kong markets in August 2023 increased by 16% to reach 8 million USD. In the first 8 months of this year, exports to this market reached 42 million USD, down 18%.
In particular, exports to the US market recorded the highest positive growth of 25% in August this year, reaching nearly 2 million USD. In the first 8 months of this year, exports to this market reached 12 million USD, down 33% over the same period last year.
After Japan's discharge of treated nuclear wastewater on August 24, Japanese consumers may prefer imported seafood products. The Chinese and Korean markets will also reduce seafood imports from Japan.
In an effort to mobilize the EU to remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnam, before the IUU Inspection Team entered Vietnam to conduct the 4th inspection, the working group of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development led by Minister Le Minh Hoan visited and Working with European Commission agencies in Brussels, Belgium on September 18. Minister Le Minh Hoan affirmed Vietnam's political determination with its best efforts to best resolve DG MARE's recommendations on repelling and ending IUU fishing, towards a sustainable development. The EU side also wants to support Vietnam to become a world model in sustainable development of the fisheries industry and combating IUU fishing.
Before the above events, Vietnam's cephalopod exports in the following months are expected to gradually narrow the decrease, possibly recording a slight growth compared to the same period last year in the last quarter of this year.
In early 2023, cephalopod exporters face many challenges such as rising inflation, falling market demand, and lack of raw material supply for processing. In order for cephalopod export activities in the last months of the year to stop decreasing and recover, export businesses want to access preferential policies on production capital, develop seaport infrastructure, and flexibility in importing raw materials to serve production needs.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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