Japan, the U.S., and Hong Kong drive growth
Vietnam’s scallop export market structure in 2025 shows a clear shift toward high-value and transshipment markets. Japan emerged as both the fastest-growing and largest import market, reaching USD 14 million, up 173%. The United States maintained its position as a major market with nearly USD 13.8 million, increasing by 10%. Hong Kong also recorded strong growth of 142%, reaching nearly USD 9 million.
Notably, exports to several markets surged sharply, including South Korea (up 334%), the UAE (up 314%), and Canada (up 167%). In contrast, some traditional markets declined, such as Denmark (down 46%) and Australia (down 9%).
In the first two months of 2026, export market dynamics continued to shift, with exports to Australia increasing elevenfold, Japan nearly fivefold, Canada nearly twenty-fourfold, and the U.S. doubling.
These trends indicate that Vietnam is rapidly emerging as a key processing and transshipment hub in the global scallop supply chain, particularly in relation to flows originating from Japan.
Global market restructuring creates opportunities for Vietnam
The global scallop market in 2025 and early 2026 has not seen a decline in demand, but rather a significant restructuring of supply sources and trade flows. Japan remains one of the world’s largest suppliers but is reducing exports to China and redirecting shipments to other markets, reshaping global supply chains.
The sharp increase in Vietnam’s exports to markets such as Japan, the U.S., Australia, and Canada suggests that the country is becoming more deeply integrated into the value chain, particularly in processing and re-export activities.
Meanwhile, demand in the EU remains stable, with importers increasingly seeking diversified supply sources. U.S. importers are facing shortages of large-sized scallops and are boosting imports. Asian markets continue to be fast-growing consumers of high-value seafood.
Outlook
Given current trends, 2026 presents clear opportunities for Vietnam’s scallop processing and exporting enterprises.
First, companies can capitalize on the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains. Vietnam holds a strong advantage as a processing and transshipment hub, especially for raw materials sourced from Japan.
Second, Vietnam can further expand in high-value markets such as Japan, the U.S., the EU, Australia, and Canada, where import demand is rising.
Third, the growing consumer preference for convenience products—such as IQF frozen scallops, seasoned ready-to-cook scallops, and retail-packaged products—offers opportunities to increase exports of value-added products.
Fourth, businesses have opportunities to diversify markets, as strong growth in destinations like the UAE, South Korea, and ASEAN highlights significant potential beyond traditional markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(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.
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