In the export product structure, shrimp continued to play the leading role with more than USD 3.9 billion in the 10-month period. Besides the stable growth of vannamei and black tiger shrimp, the highlight of this year was lobster – a product with a rare breakout, reaching over USD 712 million, up 134%. This boom stemmed from surging demand in China and Hong Kong for live and premium shrimp, especially in the HORECA segment.
Pangasius – the second major product – recorded an export value of about USD 1.8 billion after 10 months. Notably, tilapia became a new bright spot with an impressive growth of 220% to USD 62 million and is being shaped as a potential strategic product for Vietnam, with increasing demand in the US and several European countries.
Meanwhile, tuna continued to face heavy pressure. Ten-month exports remained around USD 791 million, nearly 4% lower year-on-year due to shortages of skipjack for canned processing and ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by conflicts in the Middle East. Some exporters had to scale down production or shift to loin products to reduce costs. In contrast, the squid and octopus group showed clear recovery, bringing total 10-month export value above USD 627 million; demand in Japan, South Korea and the US improved significantly, particularly for frozen products for processing. Fish cakes and surimi also drew attention, reaching USD 291 million in 10 months – up 24% year-on-year, becoming one of the fastest-growing product groups in the sector.
In terms of markets, China and Hong Kong continued to serve as an “important anchor” for Vietnam’s seafood industry in 2025. As of the end of October, exports to this market exceeded USD 2 billion, up more than 32%, particularly strong in lobster, marine fish and live crab. The rising year-end demand for live seafood is opening significant growth opportunities for Vietnamese exporters.
In contrast, the US market entered a period of high volatility. Although 10-month exports to the US still increased year-on-year, reaching around USD 1.66 billion, a clear downward trend appeared from the third quarter due to the 20% countervailing tax applied from August. Key products such as shrimp and pangasius – which account for a large share – both declined in September and October as many exporters proactively adjusted shipment volumes to avoid losses. In addition, other challenges such as anti-dumping duties on shrimp and MMPA regulations – expected to directly affect wild-caught seafood from early 2026 – have turned the US into a “risk hotspot” for the industry.
Exports to Japan continued to recover steadily, with a 10-month value of nearly USD 1.45 billion, supported by strong consumption of shrimp, squid, marine fish and pasteurized crab. The EU was also a strong-growing market, reaching USD 985 million in 10 months, benefiting from the bloc’s relaxation of certain technical barriers for Vietnam’s farmed seafood. Meanwhile, exports to South Korea maintained double-digit growth, reaching USD 725 million thanks to high demand for squid, octopus and surimi.
CPTPP markets – especially Canada, Australia and Japan – remained the fastest-growing region, showing Vietnam’s strong advantages in utilizing tariff preferences.
There will still be many challenges in 2026, particularly the prolonged US countervailing tax, the potential impact of MMPA, the likelihood that the EU will maintain the IUU yellow card, and increasing competitive pressure from India, Ecuador and Indonesia. This requires Vietnamese exporters to proactively restructure markets, strongly develop value-added products, invest in processing technology and enhance sustainability standards to maintain long-term growth.
(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).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn