Not only these sectors broke the records but seafood exports in most markets also achieved impressive growth. In which, exports to the US will reach more than 2.1 billion USD by the end of the year.
The Chinese and HongKong market also hit the $1.8 billion mark for the first time in terms of value of seafood imported from Vietnam, with a growth rate of 57%. 2022 is also the first year China overtakes Japan to become the second largest Vietnam seafood import market.
However, in terms of proportion, both Japan and China account for 16% of Vietnam's seafood export value. Compared to 2021, seafood exports to Japan also recorded a relatively high growth of 31%.
31% is also the growth rate of the whole CPTPP market in 2022. It is estimated that seafood exports to this market will reach nearly $2.9 billion this year, accounting for more than 26% of Vietnam's seafood export proportion. In spite of high low demand and high competitiveness, Vietnamese seafood enterprises have effectively utilized the advantage of tariffs in this market.
ASEAN countries are also potential and favorable destinations for seafood enterprises this year with 27% growth expected to bring in sales of 767 million USD, accounting for 7% of the country's exports. The advantage of geographical location and economic stability of this region is the driving force for enterprises to boost exports to this market.
Exports to the EU and South Korea by the end of November both recorded high growth of 26% and 22%. It is expected that by the end of this year, these two markets will bring in $ 1.3 billion and over $ 950 million respectively, both of which are record high results.
The advantages in 2022 such as high demand, increased export prices, stable supply have been and will no longer continue in the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year. Inflation penetrated deeply into the economies of the countries, causing demand and orders to drop sharply. Therefore, it is forecasted that exports in the first quarter of 2023 will decrease significantly compared to the fourth quarter and compared to the same period last year.
However, the seafood industry still has an optimistic outlook for the seafood exports in 2023. Enterprises should focus on markets with more stable economies, less affected by inflation, such as ASEAN, the Middle East and the CPTPP countries.
In particular, China's removal of strict control regulations for imported goods such as testing, sterilization and quarantine will clear a major bottleneck, opening more doors for exports to the world's most populous market. The consumption of a country of 1.5 billion people will not be able to keep up with the domestic supply that has been interrupted and limited in the past few years because of the zero-Covid policy. That will be an opportunity and advantage for Vietnamese enterprises in the coming time.
But most importantly, seafood enterprises need to be well- prepared with resources, raw materials, production capital and conditions, so that when the market stabilizes and recovers, they can quickly increase exports and win market share ahead of strong competitors such as Ecuador, India, China and other markets.
With a favorable production and business environment, the efforts, dynamism and flexibility of seafood enterprises will continue to bring positive export sales in the coming year.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(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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