In the second quarter of 2012, Vietnam bought a total of US$173.4 million of raw fish from outside. In January – June 2012, it imported raw fish from 69 countries and territories with the total value of US$331 million, including US$13 million from returned fish cargo.
The most important supplier of Vietnam was Taiwan, mostly marine fish species. In which skipjack tuna accounted for the largest proportion.
Indonesia and Thailand were also main tuna suppliers of Vietnam. In addition, Vietnam processors purchased a great volume of shrimp from these countries as they failed to find enough fish in domestic market and the price was much higher than that of imported shrimp.
For the period, versue exports, the proportion of imported seafood into Vietnam for outsourcing and re-export was nearly 11 percent. So products derived from imported fish occupy a part in the national export earnings. Being similar to other local producing countries like Thailand, Vietnam government needs to review and amend its policies on import tax, quality inspection of exported seafood to the EU and bank guarantee for tax payment grace…in order to help seafood companies get more raw material for processing and re-export, bringing higher revenue and keeping jobs for workers.
In Q.II/2012, imported fish still remained under the pressure of high quarantine fees for consignment regulated in Circular No.4/2012/TT-BTC by Vietnam Ministry of Finances. Importers must be charged of the quarantine fee which is 300 percent higher than those set in the Circular 199/2010/TT-BTC of 13th December 2010. The fee calculation will be based on consignment weight.
In addition, ocean freight was two times higher than last year, leading to huge cost for imported fish. While Vietnamese seafood processors were grappling with serious lack of capital for operating, Vietnam Customs (under Ministry of Finances) suggested that companies needed bank guarantee to get import tax payment grace period of 275 days. Many of them worried that the complex procedures may lead to waste of time and money.
In 2012 and the coming years, Vietnam seafood companies are predicted to struggle with persistent difficulties concerning lack of capital and rise of 10 – 35 percent in all input (electricity, water, worker salary, raw material supply, testing fees, fuel, packaging…), so that import of seafood material for further processing to export is expected to rise.
|
Vietnam import of fish, Jan – Jun 2012 |
|||||
|
No. |
Origin |
Value (US$) |
No. |
Origin |
Value (US$) |
|
1 |
Taiwan |
34,844,390 |
12 |
Canada |
9,020,162 |
|
2 |
Indonesia |
29,545,130 |
13 |
Ecuador |
8,287,990 |
|
3 |
The U.S. |
25,205,436 |
14 |
Denmark |
7,684,646 |
|
4 |
Norway |
22,358,624 |
15 |
China |
7,184,402 |
|
5 |
Japan |
21,026,424 |
16 |
Spain |
5,195,361 |
|
6 |
South Korea |
20,875,321 |
17 |
Tuvalu |
4,724,041 |
|
7 |
Thailand |
19,457,384 |
18 |
New Zealand |
4,665,734 |
|
8 |
Poland |
15,824,140 |
19 |
Myanmar |
4,317,854 |
|
9 |
India |
13,053,798 |
20 |
The U.K |
3,895,645 |
|
10 |
Russia |
10,553,422 |
|
Others |
54,105,118 |
|
11 |
Chile |
9,111,025 |
|
Total |
330,936,047 |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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