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) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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