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.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
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