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) Golden pompano is being selected as a high-value species for the development of high-tech marine aquaculture in Lam Dong Province. In 2026, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center launched a golden pompano farming model using circular HDPE cages in Lien Huong Commune, opening opportunities to apply technology to marine farming at a scale suited to local coastal conditions.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(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 - 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