In November 2022, exports of shrimp, pangasius and tuna all decreased by 20-26% compared to the same period last year. Only cephalopods and marine fishes exports still maintained positive growth of 9% and 6%, respectively.
By the end of November, pangasius exports still grew strongly by 63% to nearly 2.3 billion USD, shrimp exports earned over 4 billion USD, up 14%. Tuna is the sector with the second largest growth of 40%, reaching 941 million USD. Export of cephalopods also increased strongly by 30% to 704 million USD.
The US market contributes the largest amount of foreign currency to Vietnamese seafood with over US$2 billion, up nearly 10% over the same period in 2021. Exports to China - Hong Kong and the Japanese market achieved approximate sales , about 1.6 billion USD. By the end of November, seafood exports to the EU market brought in over $1.2 billion and to South Korea reached over $882 million.
The CPTPP countries (including Japan), accounted for over 26% of Vietnam's total seafood exports with nearly $2.7 billion in the first 11 months of the year, up 34%.
In general, the achievement of over 10 billion USD by the end of November is the result of strong growth in the first 3 quarters of the year, with favorable market demand, increased export prices, and sufficient raw materials to supply orders.
In the second half of 2022, Vietnam's seafood export growth slowed down
However, in the second half of the year, export growth slowed down and market demand dropped, especially in the fourth quarter. In October, seafood exports only increased by 2% over the same period. In November, seafood exports increased 14%, lower than in November 2021.
Seafood exports in December are forecasted to fall further and the decline trend will last until 2023. Inflation heavily affects import markets, and decreases the purchasing demand in the first quarter of 2023. Many seafood enterprises said that orders have dropped sharply not only for high-priced items such as black tiger shrimp, large white leg shrimp, and high-class seafood such as squid, octopus, tuna, etc, but also other affordable products such as small shrimp, pangasius, small sea fish, fish cakes, surimi also saw a significant reduction in demand for the next quarter.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
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