The top 10 main markets of
Seafood shipment witnessed ebbs and flows in the past 5 months during which exports in Feb experienced the deepest dive (-30 percent) after an increase of 34 percent in Jan and reported a decrease of 17 percent in Mar. Entering Apr and May, exports tended to rebound compared with the same period of 2012 despite a low growth of 2 – 5 percent. Demand of seafood importers in the world, showed recovery signs and domestic production of raw material (shrimp, pangasius, tuna) has been increasing. Four main factors led to the decline in seafood exports during the first 5 months of 2013:
1. Instability in raw material supply
2. Demand from main importing markets dropped due to economic downturn
3. Technical barriers and barriers of duty imposed by main importing markets: Antidumping duty imposed by the
4. Many processors must suspend their operation or curtail production due to low demand from importers, lack of capital and the State’s supportive policies, hiking production costs.
Shrimp exports were on upward trend of 7 – 9 percent in Apr and May thanks to an increase in raw shrimp supply due to this period coincides with the harvesting season in the country. Shrimp exports represented the highest proportion of 37 percent with a turnover of US$830 million, up 4 percent over the same time of 2012. The next is pangasius exports with US$670 million, representing a decrease of 7 percent and making up 29 percent of total exports.
Pangasius farmers and processors were still under strain due to lack of capital, instability of raw material supply, low demand from importers and duty barriers.
The most outstanding factors depressing
Tuna exports posed upbeat data in 2012 with a monthly growth of over 50 percent, however, entering Mar 2013, tuna exports showed decreasing signs with a reduction of 16 percent. Tuna shipment continued the downward trend of 16 percent in May. Total tuna exports in the first 5 months of 2013 were slated to reach US$251 million, up only 10 percent over the same time of 2012. The decline was mainly attributable to tuna demand in the early 2013 that slowed down after a strong increase in 2011 and especially in 2012. According to tuna exporters, tuna inventories in tuna importing countries were high while tuna price fell down. Moreover, mostly
Cephalopod exports witnessed the deepest dive of 25 percent with a revenue of US$154 million. In 2012, among top exported seafood items, tuna outstripped the third position to cephalopod exports. Entering the year 2013, exports of this item continued to shrink.
After a strong growth in 2012, exports of other marine finfish items and fish paste and surimi also followed the decline of tuna exports. Exports of these items in Mar 2013 sharply slashed by 28 percent, exports in Apr edged up slightly, exports in May continued to fall by 10 percent, driving exports in the first 5 months of 2013 down nearly 4 percent with a revenue of US$312 million. Production of marine finfish, including tuna for processing and exporting, experienced a setback because of hiking fishing costs, restriction of fishing stocks and low quality of post-harvested products.
(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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