The export deceleration in May can be explained by the unfavorable weather. Rainfall earlier than usual affects the fishery production and causes disease in farmed shrimp, leading to a decrease in shrimp production. At the same time, the inventories from 2021 have also been depleted.
Particularly, shrimp exports in June decreased by 1% compared to the same period last year because of the shortage of raw materials. In July, shrimp exports continued to decrease by nearly 13% to reach 385 million USD. Accumulation of 7 months, shrimp exports brought in 2.65 billion USD, rising 22% over the same period last year.
Shrimp production and the world shrimp demand are not expected to be positive in the last 6 months of the year. Shrimp production from other suppliers increased sharply while import volume of major markets such as the EU and US are slowing down because of high inventory and decrease in demand. Meanwhile, the domestic production of raw shrimp is facing difficulties due to the adverse weather and rising production costs. As a result, Vietnam would experience a shortage of raw shrimp in the second half of the year.
Unlike the shrimp, the source of raw materials for pangasius is not a big problem. However, the demand also tends to decrease in some markets. Therefore, Vietnam’s pangasius exports also slowed down in the second quarter. In July, pangasius exports reached 197 million USD, an increase of 56%. Accumulated until the end of July, pangasius exports reached over 1.6 billion USD, up 79% over the same period last year.
Price inflation and the trend of increasing export prices have led to a decrease in demand in major markets to adapt to the changes. However, pangasius is still an advantageous commodity when inflation is too high in many markets. Consumers will tighten their spendings and switch to more affordable products such as frozen pangasius fillets or fish cakes, surimi as well as some other frozen products, etc.
Exports of tuna, other marine fishes and cephalopod still maintained a high growth rate of 37-44% in July. By the end of July 2022, Vietnam tuna exports increased by 53% to 641 million USD. Exports of cephalopods increased by 31% to 417 million USD, other marine fishes increased by 16% to over 1.1 billion USD.
The increase in inventories along with inflation has affected the import demand of the US since June. Consequently, Vietnam's seafood exports to this market decreased by 8% in June and continued to fall deeply by 23% in July. Accumulating the first 7 months of the year, exports to the US reached nearly 1.5 billion USD, 31% increase over the same period last year.
Exports to the EU still maintained a growth rate of 28% in July. Accumulated in 7 months, Vietnam seafood exports to the EU reached 829 million USD, an increase of 39% over the same period in 2021. Seafood exports to China after 7 months have reached 1 billion USD, increased by 71% over the same period in 2021.
Scarcity of raw materials for shrimp and seafood will continue to affect Vietnam's seafood export results in the third quarter. Accordingly, Vietnam’s seafood exports in the third quarter is forecasted to grow slower than the second and first quarters, estimated at about 3 billion USD.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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