Vietnam seafood exports expected to reach 8.8 billion USD in 2021

Export potentials 08:03 26/02/2021 Lê Hằng
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With the expectation that the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic will slow down and with the support of Free Trade Agreements, analysts in Vietnam said that the main consumption channels of seafood will gradually become active again, creastin the growth momentum for this sector in 2021. It is forecasted that Vietnam's seafood export in 2021 will reach $8.8 billion, with an increase of 5% compared to 2020.

According to experts, in 2021, the recovery in consumption demand in export markets will support the growth momentum of seafood products. With the expectation that countries will have better control of the epidemic, seafood consumption will strongly recover with the return of restaurants and schools that take a large proportion in distribution channels. At the same time, seafood traders will increase imports again thanks to their need for inventory in the second half of 2020 and in 2021. It is forecasted that Vietnam will continue to increase shrimp production in 2021, reaching about 730,000 tons, up by 4%. The stable supply of shrimp will be an advantage for Vietnamese shrimp exporters to continue increasing their share in markets.

Experts also predict that, in 2021, the export price of shrimp will not increase sharply, since the demand still depends heavily on the recovery of main consuming channels. Competitive pressure will increase when global shrimp production is forecasted to rise again, so it’s nesessary to  diversify export markets to reduce the risks of the major shrimp exportes around the world.  "Assuming that the epidemic situation in the world is persistent with the level gradually decreasing thanks to the wider distribution of the vaccine in 2021, the food service channels such as restaurants, hotels, resorts,… will gradually recover. Export shrimp prices of Vietnam in 2021 will increase slightly by 5%, averaging at 9.6 USD/kg.

In addition, shrimp exports to the EU market, which is accounting for 21% of the total value of Vietnamese shrimp exports, are expected to be actively supported by the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Union (EVFTA), which has been put into effect since 1 August 2020. Then, import tax on frozen raw shrimp will immediately decrease to 0% when the Agreement comes into effect, while the tax for processed shrimp will be gradually reduced to 0% after 7 years of the Agreement's entry into force, specifically since January 1, 2027. The tax rate of 0% for raw shrimp will significantly boost the competitive advantage of this product in the EU market. Meanwhile, in 2021, the tax rate for processed shrimp will still be 7% - equal to the preferential tax rate GSP is currently getting. Therefore, Vietnam's processed shrimp products have not yet gained advantages from EVFTA. Besides the positive prospects, Vietnamese shrimp exporters will face risks if anti-dumping tax rates to the US market increases during the 14th administrative review period (POR14). However, analysts still expect Vietnamese shrimp products to continue receiving the 0% anti-dumping tax rate on the US market as demonstrated in the last review - POR 13. For pangasius, the production in Vietnam is also forecasted to continue to increase, while the output and export prices depend heavily on the purchasing power of consumers in the main consumption channels. Experts expect pangasius exports to recover, thanks to the gradually larger demand after a period of close down of estaurants, hotels and resorts since the COVID-19 epidemic in main export markets such as China, the US, EU, ... are getting into control. The advantages of lower selling price compared to substitute products and the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius businesses to increasingly focus on value-added processed products, fully meeting the conditions for food safety and hygiene, traceability will contribute to boosting the export value of Vietnamese pangasius by 2021. The price of raw fish is not affordable enough for people to expand the farming area, making the supply of pangasius difficult to expand in 3 – 6 coming  months. With the expectation that demand will gradually improve with supply not expanding in time (farmers usually take 3 - 6 months from stocking to harvest fish), pangasius export price is expected to be more positive in 2021 with a 10% increase.

covid-19 epidemic seafood consumption vietnams seafood exports export markets prices

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Creating momentum for double-digit growth

 |  08:45 30/07/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.

In the first six months of the year, Ha Tinh province earned over 1.2 trillion VND from seafood exploitation

 |  14:55 28/07/2026

(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.

Tuna exports in the first half of 2026: One month of strong growth is not enough to ease mounting pressure

 |  08:35 26/07/2026

(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.

Vietfish 2026 Domestic B2B Program: connecting supply and demand to bring high-quality Vietnamese seafood closer to local consumers

 |  15:24 24/07/2026

(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.

Vietfish 2026 Cooking Show: Telling the story of Vietnamese seafood through culinary experiences

 |  15:15 24/07/2026

(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.

Vietnam's pangasius exports reach USD 1.1 billion in the first half of 2026

 |  08:16 23/07/2026

(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.

Strengthen control over fishing vessels and trace the origin of harvested seafood.

 |  09:34 21/07/2026

(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.

Tilapia Exports Surge but Begin to Slow in June

 |  14:45 20/07/2026

(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.

Sa Giang Honored with "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" Certification

 |  14:48 18/07/2026

(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).

China has become the largest importer of Vietnamese seafood.

 |  12:47 17/07/2026

(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.

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

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC