For the first time with positive growth after 11 consecutive months of decline, the US regained its No. 1 position with 165 million USD of Vietnamese seafood import turnover in August, an increase of nearly 4% over the same period in 2022.
Although pangasius exports are still 24% lower, exports of all other key products to the US have recovered in the past month: shrimp increased by 11%, tuna increased by 2%, other marine fish increased by 12%, crab, cephalopods, and shellfish all increased from 24-56% over the same period last year.
It is recovering slowly, but the US market still has a better trend for frozen seafood consumption. While the retail price of fresh seafood in the US continues to decrease, the price of frozen seafood is increasing slightly by 0.5%. By August 2023, the number of US consumers eating out was higher than before, also a positive sign of consumption trends in the coming months.
By the end of August 2023, Vietnam seafood exports to the US have reached 1 billion USD.
By the end of August 2023, seafood exports to the US have reached 1 billion USD. It is forecast that for the whole year of 2023, this market will contribute 1.7 billion USD in export revenue for Vietnamese seafood, 23% less than in 2022.
Vietnam seafood exports to Japan and China in August were higher than the previous two months, but did not clearly reflect the recovery trend. However, the incident of Japan discharging nuclear waste is more or less disturbing the country's seafood trade with China and other markets. The impact until August is not clear, but it is possible that this will reduce Japanese seafood imports into China, Korea and some other countries.
Japan exports to China mainly mollusc products such as scallops, scallops, oysters, cephalopods, pollock, salmon, cod, cold water shrimp, etc for both domestic consumption and processing purposes. Japan’s move may help Vietnamese seafood gain more market share in some markets in the near future. Therefore, it is forecasted that seafood exports to China will increase again more strongly in the last 4 months of the year, both to meet demand during the Lunar New Year holiday and to partially offset the decline from the Japanese market
Exports of key products such as whiteleg shrimp, pangasius, tuna, tiger shrimp, squid, and frozen fish cakes are still lower than the same period in 2022
Vietnam seafood exports to Korea in August also reached the highest level since the beginning of the year, but compared to the same period, it was still 24% lower.
However, in addition to the main markets with different trends, there are many small markets that recorded growth in August, including: Australia, the Philippines, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and some markets in the EU such as Italy, Switzerland, Finland…
August 2023 also recorded a breakthrough for many aquatic products such as cod, pollock, crab, lobster, herring, mackerel, fish sauce... Products such as processed tuna, canned sea fish, shrimp, crab, processed pangasius, dried shrimp are having increased import demand compared to last year.
However, exports of key products such as whiteleg shrimp, pangasius, tuna, tiger shrimp, squid, and frozen fish cakes are still lower than the same period in 2022, causing overall export sales to not make a breakthrough.
Therefore, by the end of August, Vietnam's total seafood exports still had a negative growth of 24.5% compared to the same period in 2022. Exports of major products were 14 - 34% lower than the same period last year.
However, with more positive signs from the US and Chinese markets, pangasius and shrimp exports are forecast to progress better in the coming months. Accordingly, pangasius exports can bring in sales of 1.8-1.9 billion USD, shrimp exports are estimated to reach 3.6 billion USD and seafood products will reach about 3.5 billion USD. And, thus, it is forecast that total seafood exports in 2023 may reach about 9.1 - 9.2 billion USD, down 16% compared to 2022.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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