Since 2007, EU has surpassed Japan to become the largest importer of Vietnam seafood with fast and stable growth. In 2011, EU took the lead in seafood importing from Vietnam with 21.8 percent of the market share, followed by the U.S. with 19.3 percent and Japan with 16.4 percent.
In the first three months of 2012, seafood exports reached over US$1.3 billion in which EU was still the largest seafood importer of Vietnam with US$260 million, representing a 7.9 percent reduction from that of the same period of 2011.
Vietnam supplies a variety of seafood products for EU in which pangasius is the main exported item. Pangasius export volume to EU was stable, however, the export price tended to be increasingly low.
In contrast, shrimp shipment to EU showed a positive sign in two recent years and was expected to rocket in the upcoming years. In 2011, shrimp exports to EU was up 20.3 percent over 2010, bringing Vietnam to rank the fifth in top shrimp exporters to EU with the growth of 6.1 percent in market share of 2010 to 7.5 percent of 2011.
Pangasius is an advantage of Vietnam seafood exports while it is more and more popular with EU consumers. Boosting pangasius exports to EU will bring mutual benefit, Mr. Struan Stevenson - Senior Vice President of the European Parliament Fisheries Committee said.
In 2011 alone, Vietnam delivered 600,000 MT of pangasius to EU and average annual growth in seafood exports to EU was 30 percent. Vietnam seafood has succeeded in getting a foothold in EU market, Stevenson concluded.
Despite European debt crisis, the food industries in the region are standing firmly. ESE 2012 attracted over 1,600 seafood companies from 80 countries all over the world which were decorated impressively in the area of 34,000 square meters. At 2012 ESE, Vietnam enterprises have nearly 40 booths with nice and professional decoration and they are among the largest booths in the Exposition.
In 2012, despite instable financial situation in many countries, VASEP still focused on improving its images in ESE 2012. This year, Vietnam seafood enterprises were more active in preparing as well as bringing new seafood products to the Exposition.
Vietnam seafood exports are affected by European credit tightening. Seafood enterprises are waiting for banks’ credit loosening for loans to reinvest and stabilize their business in the EU market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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