A strong “sprint” in Q4 and december
The final months of 2025 witnessed a powerful acceleration. In Q4/2025 alone, export turnover reached $3.103 billion, up 10.3% compared with the same period last year. December contributed $954.5 million (a 9.2% increase). This period saw companies intensifying shipments to meet festive-season demand across Asian markets, particularly China and Hong Kong, which recorded an explosive growth of 22.9% in the final quarter. December marked a critical sprint for exporters targeting the U.S. market as they raced against a tightening regulatory window. These included compliance requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), an import ban effective from January 1, 2026 on species linked to 12 fisheries not recognized as equivalent and the anticipated announcement of POR19 anti-dumping duties on shrimp, expected in late February 2026.
Q4 growth was primarily propelled by shrimp, which generated $1.244 billion, up 16.8%) and other seafood products such as squid and octopus (+20.4%), crab and crustaceans (+20.9%). In contrast, tuna remained a 'dark spot', declining 10.8% in Q4. The downturn was exacerbated by the U.S. MMPA regulations, the ongoing IUU yellow card and persistent challenges in raw material sourcing.
The corporate landscape: the resilience of industry “flagship players”
2025 also served as a definitive year for market leaders to consolidate their dominance. The top 10 seafood exporters made a significant contribution to the industry’s total export turnover, featuring well-established names from the shrimp and pangasius segments.
Leading the ranking was STAPIMEX with export turnover of $309.8 million, followed by “Shrimp King” Minh Phu (whose combined revenue from its Ca Mau and Hau Giang entities surpassed $542 million). Vinh Hoan fortified its undisputed dominance in the pangasius sector with $249.0 million. The inclusion of names such as Phat Loi, An Hai and Tai Kim Anh in the top 10 signals a powerful upward trajectory for enterprises focusing on deep-processed products and the burgeoning Chinese market.
The success of Vietnamese seafood enterprises in 2025 stemmed from their effective utilization of FTAs and timely market shifts. When the U.S. market faced headwinds from reciprocal tariffs implemented in August 2025, exporters swiftly pivoted toward the CPTPP bloc (exceeding $3 billion) and China ($2.4 billion).
However, Q4 results revealed looming pressure from technical barriers such as the IUU yellow card and marine mammal protection regulations (MMPA), which weighed heavily on the wild-caught seafood segment. Sustaining growth momentum in 2026 will largely depend on the industry’s ability to ensure supply chain transparency and optimize production costs amidst the volatile fluctuations of international trade policies.
Building on the solid foundation laid in 2025, Vietnam’s seafood sector remains well positioned for sustainable growth, despite expectations of renewed challenges in 2026, particularly from the U.S market and increasingly stringent 'green' certification requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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