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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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