Products of Kien Cuong Seafood
Among export markets, South Korea remains the largest importer, with imports in the first five months of 2025 exceeding USD 100 million, accounting for 36% of Vietnam’s total exports and up 6% compared to the same period in 2024. Vietnam mainly exports frozen cuttlefish and boiled octopus to this market.
Japan follows with nearly USD 69 million, up 19% year-on-year. Exports of squid and octopus to Japan have been on the rise thanks to stable demand and the appeal of high-quality products such as sashimi and boiled octopus.
Exports to China are also rebounding strongly, with high growth over the past two months after a decline earlier this year. This rebound is attributed to the reopening of the Chinese market, which has recently increased imports of frozen and semi-processed squid to serve its food service sector. Export value to China in the first five months reached more than USD 26 million, a 2% increase year-on-year.
Exports to the EU have also accelerated in recent months. With a total value of nearly USD 15 million in the first five months (up 11% year-on-year), the EU ranks as Vietnam’s fifth-largest market for squid and octopus. Exports to the bloc’s top three markets—Italy, Spain, and Belgium—grew by 6%, 71%, and 24% respectively.
In addition, several emerging markets such as the Philippines, UAE, Cambodia, and Canada recorded growth of over 40% compared to the same period last year, showing great potential in the mid-range and convenience product segments.
Forecasts suggest that Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports in the first five months of 2025 have made a strong start, laying a solid foundation for reaching the target of over USD 700 million for the full year. As the global market shows signs of recovery, enterprises need to invest more in deep processing, traceability, and expanding access to emerging markets to enhance the sustainability of this strategic industry. However, to achieve this target, businesses also need government support in facilitating the domestic raw material supply, and in promptly resolving bottlenecks related to the certification and verification of harvested seafood.
(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.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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