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) 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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