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) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
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
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