The Covid 19 pandemic affected the production and business activities of Vietnam fisheries industry, causing the decline in seafood exports in the first months of the year. Seafood exports saw the decline in China and South Korea in the first two months of the year. Since March 2020, the Covid outbreak happening in EU and US countries caused exports to these markets to be delayed. As a result, Vietnam seafood exports to the US may fall by 10% in May after falling by 11% in April. Exports to the EU may decrease by 21% in May after falling by 23% in April.
In the main markets of Vietnam seafood, in the past 2 months, Japan and China market still maintained positive growth in importing Vietnamese seafood. After the Covid pandemic was basically controlled in China, since March 2020, China's demand for seafood imports recovered, Vietnam's seafood exports to the market increased continuously: increased by 35% in April and continued to increase sharply by 20% in May. Meanwhile, seafood imports into Japan from Vietnam stabilized. The seafood import value from Vietnam into Japan increased continuously in the first months of the year. In May, exports to Japan increased by 9% after rising by 16% in April. It is expected that with this growth momentum, Japan will continue to be the largest importing market of Vietnam seafood this year and will offset the significant reduction in EU and US markets. By the end of May 2020, exports to China may only about fall by 2% compared to the same period last year, by the end of June, the exports to this market are forecast to be similar or slightly increase compared to the same period in 2019.
Most of the seafood products exported by Vietnam dropped, except for shrimp that maintained a growth rate of 6% in April and May, so in the first 5 months of this year, shrimp exports saw a positive growth of nearly 4% with nearly US$1.2 billion. Pangasius exports in May may recover gradually compared to April. However, pangasius exports in Jan-May 2020 estimated to reach nearly US$600 million, down 24% year on year.
Vietnam’s total marine products exports by the end of May 2020 are estimated to US$1.1 billion, down by over 4% YoY, in which tuna sales (-18%) and cephalopod (-19% ), other marine products may still increase slightly (other marine finfish may increase by nearly 5%).
It is forecast that seafood exports by Vietnam in the coming months will recover gradually because the EU market has started to open again from May, the demand will increase gradually in the coming months. However, the Covid epidemic is complicated in the US and some other countries, so it will continue to affect the global seafood trade including Vietnam.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of 2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry had left a strong mark with export turnover reaching nearly $11.3 billion, up 12.4% year-on-year. This robust performance reflects not only a rebound in global consumption demand but also the agile adaptation of domestic firms in navigating increasingly stringent trade barriers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the 2025 review and 2026 outlook conference held by the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance on the afternoon of January 7, Vietnam’s seafood sector has set a total production target of over 10 million tons in 2026, representing a 0.6% increase year-on-year. Of this total, capture fisheries are projected at around 3.75 million tons (down 2.1%), while aquaculture output is expected to reach 6.25 million tonnes (up 2.2%) compared with 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Food JSC (Fimex, Ticker: FMC) has announced its 2025 business results, reporting revenue of over $300 million (approximately 7.8 trillion VND), representing a 19.8% increase year-on-year; projected profit is expected to reach approximately 420 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s fisheries sector concluded 2025 with landmark achievements: export turnover reached a record high, despite heightened volatility in global trade and increasingly stringent barriers from major markets, most notably the United States. Amid a mix of opportunities and challenges, the fisheries sector also witnessed important policy shifts. Together, these developments form a multifaceted picture of an industry proactively adapting and restructuring toward a trajectory of sustainable development.
(seafoos.vasep.com.vn) According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long, the province’s shrimp farming area reached 69,800 hectares in 2025, including 7,500 hectares under high-tech farming models, 18,820 tons of black tiger shrimp and 293,000 tons of whiteleg shrimp.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Building on a robust growth momentum in 2025, Nghe An province has set a strategic goal to reach a total fisheries output of 270,000 tons by 2026, reinforcing its position as a key hub for aquaculture and exploitation.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, cumulative shrimp exports from the beginning of the year through November reached $4.3 billion, up 21% year-on-year, continuing to serve as the primary growth driver of the entire seafood sector. In November alone, export turnover amounted to $393 million, up 14%.
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