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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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