The US remains the key market but growth slows down
In the first nine months of 2025, crab exports to the US reached more than USD 46 million, accounting for nearly 81% of total export value, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. However, compared with the double-digit growth rate of the previous year, this increase shows that consumption in the US market is slowing down due to high prices, rising logistics costs, and abundant supply from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Nevertheless, the US remains the main market, especially for cooked crab meat and canned crab, which are favored by consumers in the restaurant and retail segments.
EU and CPTPP emerge as new bright spots
A notable highlight in the picture of Vietnam’s crab exports in 2025 is the strong recovery in the EU and CPTPP markets. Exports to the EU reached more than USD 2 million, up 161% compared to the same period last year; particularly, France more than doubled (+208%), becoming the largest crab import market of Vietnam within this bloc. Exports to the countries participating in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) also recorded an increase of 28%. Exports to markets such as the UK and Australia all showed positive signs. Especially, Australia surged by 280% in September 2025, reflecting strong demand for convenient processed crab products and high-quality frozen products.
Asian markets see strong fluctuations
In contrast with the upward trend in Europe, crab exports to China and Hong Kong dropped sharply by 55% and 7% respectively in the nine months. The main reasons came from weak purchasing power and stricter quarantine regulations after the Chinese domestic market had abundant supply from local catches. South Korea also recorded a decrease of 17%, reflecting the trend of dieting and substitution by domestic products or cheaper shrimp and fish.
Global crab market trends in 2025
In 2025, the global crab market witnesses prices remaining at high levels due to limited natural catches, rising logistics costs, while demand in the US, Japan, and China remains strong. Products such as snow crab, king crab, and blue swimming crab – which are mainly exported by Vietnam – all tend to maintain or slightly increase prices in Q4/2025. Importers are paying more attention to traceability, sustainability certification, and deep processing – a trend that many Vietnamese enterprises are shifting toward to meet market requirements.
Outlook for late 2025–2026: Expanding value-added products
With a stable recovery foundation, Vietnam’s crab exports in the last months of 2025 are expected to maintain a slight upward trend, thanks to high demand during the festive season in the US and Europe. In 2026, growth is forecast to reach 3–5%, if enterprises continue to diversify products and markets. However, changes in US trade policy may restrain shipments to this market and cause export revenue instability. To take advantage of this trend, Vietnamese enterprises need to: invest in deep-processed products (packed crab meat, canned crab, crab surimi); promote sustainability certification (MSC, FIP) to expand exports to the EU and Japan; and diversify markets to avoid excessive dependence on the US.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Golden pompano is being selected as a high-value species for the development of high-tech marine aquaculture in Lam Dong Province. In 2026, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center launched a golden pompano farming model using circular HDPE cages in Lien Huong Commune, opening opportunities to apply technology to marine farming at a scale suited to local coastal conditions.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. 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 increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
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