US remains the key market but shows slower growth
During the first nine months of 2025, crab exports to the United States reached over USD 46 million, accounting for nearly 81% of total export value, up 5% year-on-year. However, compared to the double-digit growth recorded last year, this slower pace reflects weaker consumption in the US due to high prices, rising logistics costs, and ample supply from Indonesia and the Philippines.
Despite this slowdown, the US remains a strategic market, especially for cooked crab meat and canned swimming crab, which continue to be popular in the restaurant and retail sectors.
EU and CPTPP emerge as new growth drivers
A highlight of Vietnam’s swimming crab exports in 2025 is the strong recovery in the EU and CPTPP markets. Exports to the EU exceeded USD 2 million, up 161% compared to the same period last year; notably, France more than doubled (+208%), becoming Vietnam’s largest EU importer of swimming crab.
Exports to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) markets also rose by 28%, with the UK and Australia showing encouraging growth. Particularly, exports to Australia surged 280% in September 2025, reflecting robust demand for convenience processed crab and high-quality frozen products.
Asian markets experience sharp fluctuations
In contrast to the positive trends in Europe, exports to China and Hong Kong fell sharply by 55% and 7%, respectively, over the same period. The decline was mainly due to weak consumer demand and stricter quarantine measures, as domestic Chinese supply from wild catches increased.
South Korea also recorded a 17% drop, driven by changes in consumption patterns—more focus on diet trends and substitution with cheaper local seafood or shrimp and fish products.
Global swimming crab market trends in 2025
In 2025, the global crab market has seen persistently high prices due to limited natural catches and rising logistics costs, while demand in the US, Japan, and China remains strong.
Key crab species such as snow crab, king crab, and blue swimming crab—Vietnam’s main export types—are expected to maintain or slightly increase in price in Q4/2025.
Importers are increasingly emphasizing traceability, sustainability certifications (e.g. MSC, FIP), and value-added processing, trends that many Vietnamese exporters are now adapting to meet.
Outlook for late 2025–2026: Focus on value-added products
With a stable recovery base, Vietnam’s swimming crab exports are expected to maintain mild growth in the final months of 2025, driven by seasonal demand during the holiday period in the US and Europe.
For 2026, growth is projected at 3–5%, provided that exporters continue to diversify products and markets. However, US trade policy adjustments may pose challenges and cause fluctuations in export orders.
To seize these opportunities, Vietnamese exporters should: Invest in value-added products such as packaged cooked swimming crab meat, canned swimming crab, and swimming crab-based surimi; Strengthen sustainability certifications (MSC, FIP) to access EU and Japanese markets; Diversify export destinations to reduce dependence on the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
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