The positive signals for the shrimp industry seem to be more focused on lobster products with sales upsurging from $46.6 million in the first half of 2023 to $126.7 million this year, an increase of 171%. 98% of this sales revenue came from live rock lobster (green lobster) products, and the main market was China.
Crab and swimming crab exports in the first half of this year saw the strongest breakthrough among the major products, increasing by 75% to reach $125 million. Of this, crab exports increased by nearly double to almost $93 million, and swimming crab exports increased by 33% to over $31 million. Specifically, live crab products exported brought in $54 million in revenue, nearly 8 times higher than the same period last year. China was also the main consumer market for Vietnam's live crab products.
In the overall picture of exports to the Chinese market in the first half of the year, fresh and live products were the highlights, contributing to the increase in seafood export value to this market. Accordingly, in the first 6 months of this year, seafood exports to China reached nearly $690 million, an increase of 8.4%. Of this, pangasius still accounted for the largest proportion, accounting for 35% with over $243 million, down 7.4% compared to the same period last year.
The second largest export item to the Chinese market in the first half of this year was lobster, with nearly $122 million, an increase of 174% and accounting for nearly 18% of the total seafood export value to this market. Exports of white-leg shrimp to China also decreased by 10% to only $117 million. Exports of giant tiger prawns also decreased by nearly 30% to $38.5 million.
Aside from shrimp and pangasius, many other marine finfish species exported to China also witnessed a decline in export value in the first 6 months of this year. Meanwhile, being one of the top 4 highest-value export items, live crab exports to China increased 12-fold, reaching $49 million.
Frozen seafood exports to China in the first half of the year were mostly down compared to the same period, due to lower prices, while live seafood products had better room for growth.
Besides lobster and live crab, there were also strong increases in live clams (mainly razor clams and flower clams) and live sea snails, up 280% and 282% respectively compared to the same period last year.
The frozen shrimp market in China is currently in a state of oversupply, as products from Ecuador are flooding the market and domestic farming output has reached high levels. In the first half of this year, China imported 436,000 tons of shrimp, with shrimp originating from Ecuador alone accounting for 330,000 tons, or 75% of the total.
Meanwhile, China's demand for salmon and lobster is expected to continue growing. As the world's leading consumer of seafood, Chinese consumers are increasingly preferring high-quality and value-added seafood products. There has been a shift from purchasing live seafood at traditional markets to buying live seafood through e-commerce channels. Among these, shrimp is the most popular seafood product purchased online by Chinese consumers.
Although the situation has gradually improved - with inflation and inventories both declining - the lingering effects are still impacting demand in import markets. Vietnamese seafood exports to major markets are facing price competition from other supplying countries, so the average export prices of key products like shrimp and tra fish remain low compared to 2023 and previous years.
As a result, total seafood exports in the first 6 months are recovering, but only saw a strong breakthrough in January (+64.5%), with modest increases in the following months.
For the second half of the year, Vietnam's seafood exports are forecast to return to a normal trajectory as before the COVID-19 period. Exports will increase compared to the first half, with orders expected to surge in Q3 to serve the year-end holiday season in the markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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