In the first month of this year, exports have increased by 64% over the same period in 2023. After a continuous decline from the fourth quarter of 2022, exports from the fourth quarter of 2023 tended to be more positive and had a strong breakthrough in January, when the demand for goods for the Lunar New Year in many markets increased, especially in China and Asian countries. Part of it also caters to Vietnamese and Asian consumers in other markets.
After the Lunar New Year, normally demand levels off a bit, so exports to China do not increase as strongly as in January. However, Lent season has started, so the demand for seafood has returned in Western countries and many markets.
By the end of February, shrimp and tuna exports both increased by 37% over the same period, while pangasius exports increased by 15% and other fish increased by 8%. Particularly, cephalopod exports decreased slightly by 1%.
Shrimp exports have positive signals in many markets, such as China, the US, Japan, Canada, and Australia. In particular, in the Chinese market, demand is recovering well, while competitive exporter Ecuador is being warned about sulfite on shrimp, and the problem of increased freight due to the Red Sea tension also causes Ecuadorian shrimp imports to China to decline.
Ecuador, however, is more focused on the US and EU markets, so competitive pressure is greater in these markets.
Pangasius export prices to the US and EU both bottomed out in the last months of 2023 but recovered slightly in January, but export prices to China were still significantly lower than in previous years.
Inventory problems and oversupply are still affecting the consumption and import of main aquatic species such as shrimp, pangasius, etc.
Seafood exports are still in a difficult period because the IUU yellow card problem causes the procedures of catch certification and catch statement of seafood caught for export to the EU to be stalled. While lacking domestic raw materials, enterprises also face difficulties with imported materials because of IUU-related regulations.
In March and April 4, seafood enterprises will participate in the International Seafood Fairs in Boston, USA, and Barcelona, Spain, so expecting more positive results for their orders after these events.
(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
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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