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) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) More than five years after the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) took effect, Vietnamese seafood is steadily expanding its market share in the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s major seafood import markets with stable and diverse consumer demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At Van Hung Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Aquaculture Research Center and the Van Hung Public Service Center, organized a technical training course on the industrial-scale production of disease-free golden pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) seed for local marine fish farmers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports maintained a strong recovery in the first five months of 2026, reaching more than USD 302 million, up 17% compared to the same period in 2025. Growth was primarily driven by Asian markets, including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China, while exports to the United States and the European Union continued to face headwinds from cautious consumer demand and increasingly stringent compliance requirements.
Vietnamese seafood giant Minh Phu Group has inaugurated a VND1.5 trillion (US$57.4 million) seafood processing plant in Ca Mau Province.
(vasep.com.vn) From 19–21 August 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability", Vietfish 2026 continues to serve as Vietnam's flagship annual seafood event, bringing together seafood producers, exporters, importers, buyers, industry experts, government agencies, and stakeholders from across the domestic and global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in May 2026, reaching USD 14 million, up 18% compared with the same month last year. Cumulative export value for the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 62 million, representing a remarkable 101% increase over the same period in 2025, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery in international markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 367 million in the first five months of 2026, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025. While the decline is not yet severe, the more concerning issue is that pressure is mounting in key markets such as the United States and the European Union, just as ocean freight rates are rising sharply on long-haul routes. The current situation is therefore not merely about slower orders, but rather a clear restructuring phase for Vietnam’s tuna industry.
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