Accordingly, accumulated Vietnam seafood export in the first 5 months of 2022 brought a turnover of over 4.6 billion USD, going up 42% over the same period in 2021.
Seafood exports in May 2022 have slowed down slightly compared to the previous month mainly due to the reduction in shrimp export. While April has experienced a dramatic increase of 47%, shrimp exports in May reached US$416 million, an increase of 19%. By the end of May, shrimp exports were estimated at about US$1.8 billion, up 38%, accounting for 39% of the total turnover of seafood exports.
Some enterprises state that shrimp exports in the first four months increased dramatically for four reasons. First, demand significantly recovered after the Covid pandemic; Secondly, the raw materials are available thanks to the reserve and inventory sources in 2021. Third, many enterprises succeeded in signing contracts with high prices at the end of last year in the complex development of Covid 19. Fourth, global inflation in food and seafood has led to higher prices of exported shrimp. Finally, Vietnamese enterprises are gradually returning to international seafood fairs in the US and EU, etc.
However, the unfavorable weather from the beginning of May would be a disadvantage for farmed shrimp. The first rain of the season comes earlier than usual, affecting shrimp production and signaling a negative sign in the source of shrimp materials. In May and the next few months, it is likely that shrimp materials supply will be in a shortage. Besides, the shrimp demand in some main import markets tends to slow down after a strong increase from the end of 2021 until now. Therefore, shrimp exports in the second quarter are expected to grow slower than in the first quarter.
Pangasius exports in May increased by 65% to 245 million USD, also a lower growth compared to April. However, accumulated pangasius exports in the first 5 months of the year remain at a high growth rate of nearly 90%, equivalent to over 1. 2 billion USD. This year, the record of the price inflation of food and seafood in the world is an advantage for Vietnam's pangasius exports. Pangasius exports grow sharply, especially in the US, EU, and China markets.
Tuna exports still maintained a high growth rate of 41% in May 2022, reaching over US$93 million. By the end of May 2022, tuna exports reached $461 million, an increase of 58% over the same period in 2021. Exports of other marine products such as cephalopods crabs, and mollusk shells are all going up but still lower than in April.
Moreover, the continuous war situation in Russia will affect economic sectors, including fishing, and the scarcity of raw materials consequencing from the high cost of fishing. Therefore, the source of marine materials for export processing will be the current difficult problem for enterprises.
|
Seafood export in the first 5 months of 2022 (US$ mil.) (Estimated) |
|||||
|
Products |
May/2022 |
Growth (%) |
Jan- May/2022 |
Growth (%) |
Proportion (%) |
|
Shrimp |
416.495 |
19.3 |
1813.550 |
38.3 |
38.9 |
|
Pangasius |
245.118 |
65.1 |
1208.391 |
89.4 |
25.9 |
|
Tuna |
93.427 |
41.5 |
461.208 |
58.2 |
9.9 |
|
Other fishes |
160.345 |
8.5 |
759.565 |
7.6 |
16.3 |
|
Cephalopod |
57,548 |
11,3 |
270,358 |
25,2 |
5,8 |
|
Mollusk shells |
12,096 |
0,8 |
58,561 |
21,4 |
1,3 |
|
Other mollusks |
714 |
171,6 |
2,644 |
-34,2 |
0,1 |
|
Crab and other crustaceans |
15,766 |
9,3 |
84,611 |
46,6 |
1,8 |
|
Total |
1.001,507 |
26,8 |
4.658,888 |
42,4 |
100,0 |
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth momentum is moderating and market divergece is becoming more pronounced, while the US and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global shrimp forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers place greater emphasis on quality, product specifications, supply consistency and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports continued to grow in August 2026, bringing total export value in the first eight months of the year to US$1.5 billion, up 10% year-on-year. August exports alone reached US$205 million, up 6%. However, market performance has become increasingly divergent, with China and Brazil posting positive growth while the U.S. continued to record a sharp decline.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$1.14 billion in August 2026, up 6.4% year on year, bringing the total for the first eight months to more than US$8.0 billion, an increase of 11.9%. Monthly export value remained above US$1 billion, but August growth was only around half the rate recorded cumulatively through the first eight months. This indicates that the eight-month result was supported significantly by stronger performance in earlier months, while market conditions are entering a less predictable period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius is attracting growing interest from Japanese seafood companies as prices of many traditional whitefish species remain high and supply becomes increasingly volatile. Notably, seafood group Kyokuyo has recently continued to feature pangasius among its priority products, highlighting its competitive pricing and stable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As Vietnam’s tilapia industry searches for new growth opportunities, venturing into brackish-water aquaculture could unlock a formidable competitive moat. Bypassing the volume-and-price bloodbath against established global heavyweights, Vietnam could differentiate itself through high-quality tilapia products tailored to specific farming conditions and value-added market segments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be a formidable stress test for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the United States. While exports to alternative markets maintain a resilient growth trajectory, the U.S market has declined significantly. In the first eight months of the year, pangasius exports to the U.S fell by nearly 14% year-on-year, with August alone recording a decline of more than 50%. The trend shows that difficulties in the U.S. market are not driven solely by weak consumer demand, but also by multiple layers of trade barriers that are intensifying simultaneously, particularly additional import tariffs, anti-dumping duties and growing protectionism for the domestic catfish industry.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan are showing positive signals in 2026, indicating that the market is opening up greater opportunities for pangasius products, particularly processed and value-added products. In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan reached US$31 million, up 20% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached approximately US$5 million, up 30%.
On July 22, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP detailing certain articles and providing measures for the organization and implementation of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. The Decree takes effect on September 5, 2026, replacing Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
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