After a decline of 18% in November, shrimp exports in December decreased by 21% year-on-year to $260 million. In 2022, the shrimp industry recorded a record of over $4.3 billion, of which whiteleg shrimp exports achieved 3.1 billion USD, black tiger shrimp exports brought nearly 570 million USD, lobster 278 million USD, the rest were river and other marine shrimp.
Pangasius exports brought in more than 2.4 billion USD, an increase of 52% compared to 2021. In December, pangasius exports also dropped sharply by 23% over the same period, reaching 166 million USD.
Although it also dropped 22% in December with sales of over $68 million, the tuna industry hit the $1 billion milestone for the first time. Cephalopod exports brought in 764 million USD, up 26% compared to 2021. Other fish products such as anchovies, scads, mackerel and marine fishes contributed a large amount of 2 billion USD in 2022, 22% higher than in 2021.
In December, although exports to most markets declined, exports to China & Hong Kong still increased by 17%, showing an optimistic signal about this market in the coming time. In 2022, the China-HK market brought in over $1.8 billion for Vietnam's seafood industry, an increase of 59% compared to 2021.
Exports to ASEAN countries still maintained a positive growth momentum of 27% in December. This market contributed $790 million to Vietnam's seafood exports in 2022.
Exports to the US dropped the most, 40% in December . In 2022, exports to this market reached over $2.1 billion, up 5% compared to 2021. Exports to the EU reached nearly $1.3 billion, up 20 %. Exports to this market decreased by 32%in December. Japan kept a stable level of imports of nearly 1.7 billion USD in December and the whole year as well, up 28%.
The CPTPP bloc contributes to Vietnam's seafood industry more than 2.8 billion USD in 2022, up 30% compared to 2021.
The world economic recession and inflation are causing the market's demand to decrease sharply. It is forecasted that exports in the first quarter of 2023 will not be able to keep the positive results like in 2022 and the market may recover in the second half of 2023. Therefore, in 2023, seafood exports may decrease slightly to about 10 billion USD.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
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