Shrimp: Strong growth momentum
Shrimp continued to be the largest bright spot, contributing USD 542.387 million in the first two months of the year, marking a growth of 30.8%. In February 2025 alone, shrimp export value reached USD 231.406 million, a 33.9% increase. This recovery indicates that the shrimp industry is regaining its growth momentum after a prolonged period of low prices in 2023-2024. Despite a decline in imports from China and the U.S. in 2024, other markets such as the EU and emerging regions have filled the gap, helping maintain global shrimp production stability while prices have improved. This suggests a healthier balance between supply and demand.
The EU has become a key market, with imports of frozen Penaeus shrimp and value-added processed shrimp reaching 376,875 tons in 2024, an increase of 4% compared to 2023. The long-term growth trend is evident as imports in 2024 were 26% higher than in 2019, primarily due to contributions from Ecuador (+78%) and India (+47%). Vietnam also recorded partial recovery in its supply to the EU, solidifying its position among the top suppliers. However, increasing competition from Ecuador and India requires Vietnam to focus on value-added products and diversify markets to maintain its competitive edge.
The shrimp industry’s outlook for 2025 is relatively optimistic, provided that instability factors such as the trade war during the Trump administration do not cause further disruptions. Average import prices have risen since October 2024 and are expected to remain high throughout 2025, thanks to stable inventories, which provide confidence for both exporters and importers.
Pangasius: Price growth but underlying risks
Pangasius exports reached USD 253.241 million in the first two months of the year, but showed a slight negative growth (-0.8%) compared to the same period. In February 2025, the export value was USD 120.057 million, marking a strong growth of 32.8%, signaling a short-term recovery. The price of commercial-sized pangasius is currently at its highest level in three years (32,000-33,000 VND/kg for fish over 1kg), providing substantial profits for farmers (2,000-3,500 VND/kg). This price increase is a result of rising export demand, especially since late 2024, when businesses reported steady orders extending through at least June 2025.
However, the pangasius market faces significant challenges. Raw material prices have increased due to rising input costs (feed, labor) and uncertainties from U.S. tariff policies, with an additional 10% tax on seafood processed from China, which indirectly affects global trade flows. Demand in the U.S. remains sluggish, and large inventories may suppress price increases. Pangasius farmers need to be cautious and avoid spontaneous production expansion, as current prices may be "artificial" and could drop if supply exceeds demand. Collaborating with businesses, applying modern farming technologies, and focusing on value-added products will be key to maintaining a competitive advantage.
Tuna: Stability amid challenges and international regulations
Tuna exports reached USD 126.481 million in the first two months of the year, a slight decrease of 3.5%, with February 2025 reaching USD 59.986 million, showing a growth of 15.9%. Japan, one of the main markets for Vietnamese tuna, has shown price stability, though at a low level. The price of frozen bigeye tuna at the Toyosu Market (Tokyo) has remained around 650 yen/kg since week 4 of 2025, 100 yen/kg lower than last year, due to tight supply from the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Meanwhile, premium bluefin tuna remains scarce, pushing the auction price of high-quality tuna at Oma (Aomori) to exceed 10,000 yen/kg on February 20, 2025.
The Vietnamese tuna export industry is facing significant challenges from major importing markets like the EU and the U.S.
Other products
Other product groups such as various fish (USD 302.783 million, up 13.6%), squid and octopus (USD 101.009 million, up 13.8%), mollusks (USD 39.089 million, up 121.6%), and crabs (USD 62.762 million, up 86.1%) all show significant potential. Notably, mollusks and crabs have recorded remarkable growth due to strong demand from the Chinese market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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