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) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
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