January has brought in a promising start for 2025, with a slight increase of 3% in seafood exports compared to the same time last year. The total export value hit over $774 million, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
Key highlights from exports in January
The main driver of this increase? Higher demand from China during the Lunar New Year celebrations. The Chinese market, in particular, has shown a surge in imports of high-end seafood products like lobster, crab, and clams. Notably, lobster exports to China reached a staggering $70 million in January, nearly half of Vietnam's seafood exports to China for the period, marking a ninefold increase from last year. Similarly, exports of crab to China skyrocketed 18 times, hitting $18.5 million in the same month.
Thanks to the boost in lobster exports, Vietnam’s total shrimp exports have surged by 24%, providing an important boost not only for China but also for other ASEAN markets. These markets remain crucial for Vietnam’s seafood industry, and such growth is vital in maintaining the sector’s positive trajectory.
Declining exports and global market uncertainty
While some products like pangasius, tuna, cephalopod, and other items have seen a decline in exports, this is relatively typical for this time of year. Experts are watching closely as global seafood trade is largely influenced by shifting policies, particularly U.S. tariff regulations. With the new administration in place, it’s still early to determine how these tariffs will impact the seafood industry, both for Vietnam and other global players.
Experts estimate that it will take 3 to 6 months to get a clearer view of how the U.S. market will evolve in response to these policies. During this time, we can expect both exporters and U.S. importers to ramp up trade activity. This could lead to an uptick in exports to the U.S. in the coming months. However, there are challenges ahead—rising transportation and logistics costs could be a concern, especially for popular items like shrimp and pangasius.
The competition and emerging trends
While Vietnam’s position in the Chinese seafood market remains strong, competition is heating up. With local Chinese products and competitors from countries like India, Ecuador, and Canada vying for space in markets like the U.S., Europe, and ASEAN, it’s going to be tough. Additionally, with new import tariffs from the U.S. affecting China and Canada, the dynamics are shifting, and it’s unclear how the global seafood market will adapt.
In the face of this competition, Vietnamese businesses need to stay flexible and responsive to changes in the market. Here are a few recommendations:
Recommendations for Vietnamese seafood businesses
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
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
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