In the period, Vietnam seafood exports valued at US$4.43 billion, up 5.2% compared to the same period of 2015. In which, exports of shrimp increased by 5.8%; pangasius up 6%; tuna up 2.1%, other finfish up 8.3%; crabs and other crustaceans up 7.2%; while those of mollusks (including cephalopod and bivalve mollusks) decreased by 4.2% year on year. By the end of this year, total seafood exports expected to maintain the growth of 5-6%.
Shrimp exports rose
In the first 8 months of this year, Vietnam shrimp exports reached US$1.93 billion, up 5.8% compared to the same period of 2015. In particular, sales of black tiger shrimp slightly decreased by 0.5%; that of whiteleg shrimp increased by 10%.
Through Aug 2016, Vietnam shrimp exports to the U.S reached US$435.3 million; up 16.5% year on year. Vietnam’s shipments to the U.S remained the good growth thanks to an increase in demand, while other sellers to the market such as India, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Thailand had difficulties in their supplies of raw materials, which led to a rise in the export prices. Besides, the country also increased imports of black tiger shrimp while sources from India and Indonesia fell.
In Sep 2016, DOC announced the final result of POR10 that was 5 times higher than preliminary result. The DOC’s decision may affect to the shrimp sales from Vietnam to the U.S in the last quarter of 2016.
Vietnam shrimp sales to the EU reached US$372 million, up 7% year on year in which exports to the UK up 8.4%, the Netherlands up 29% and Germany up 2.1% year on year. Shrimp sales to the UK rose thanks to higher demand for warmwater shrimp in the market in the context of lower supply of coldwater shrimp.
Vietnam shrimp exports to Japan in Jan-Aug 2016 touched US$343.7 million, down 6.4% from the same period last year due to a weak yen and higher shrimp price. Through Jul and Aug 2016, the import price of shrimp into Japan rose despite a stronger yen as supplies declined and the global demand increased.
Up in Vietnam pangasius exports
In Jan-Aug this year, Vietnam pangasius exports gained US$1.08 billion, up 6% compared to the same period last year. In which, sales to the U.S and China showed the good signs during the period.
Exports to the U.S reached US$254.5 million, up 22.4% year on year. Exports to EU continued to fall in the second consecutive year. Through Aug 2016, shipments to EU amounted to US$177.3 million, down 7.9% year on year. Pangasius consumption in the EU since the end of 2014 up to now slowed down. Vietnam pangasius still had to toughly compete with some other whitefish products such as fish Alaska pollock in major markets such as the Netherlands, the UK, Spain or Germany.
In the period, exports to China hit US$171.9 million, up 72% compared to the same period last year. This was a rise in the second consecutive year.
Vietnam exports of marine products recovered
Vietnam tuna exports in Aug 2016 were up 10%; other marine finfish rose by nearly 15%; cephalopod went up 1.7%; bivalve mollusks grew by 4.4%; and crabs increased by nearly 61%.
As of Aug 2016, Vietnam tuna exports valued at US$309.8 million; up 2.1% year on year. Of that, exports of fresh/fresh/frozen tuna (HS code 03) continued to pick up the biggest share of 58.3%, up from 54.4% last year. Exports of processed tuna (HS code 16) accounted for 41.7%; down from 45.6% in the same period last year.
Top 8 importing markets of Vietnam tuna, including the U.S, EU, ASEAN, China, Israel, Japan, Canada, and Mexico made up 88.2% of Vietnam tuna exports.
In the period, exports of other finfish increased by 8.3%; crabs and other crustaceans up 7.2%, while those of mollusks (including cephalopod and bivalve mollusks) decreased by 4.2% compared to the same period last year.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) The Global Shrimp Forum (GSF) 2026 is taking place from September 1–3 in Utrecht, the Netherlands, bringing together around 585 delegates from 40 countries, representing approximately 300 companies and organizations across the shrimp supply chain. Representatives from VASEP are attending the event as part of the Vietnamese delegation, strengthening connections with partners across the global shrimp industry.
(vasep.com.vn) At the international B2B seminar (Hosted Buyer Program) held as part of Vietfish 2026, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Pham, Sales Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, delivered a presentation entitled “Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry: Changing for Sustainability.” From the perspective of a seafood processor, the presentation highlighted that Vietnam’s shrimp industry continues to play a leading role in seafood exports, but is entering a new phase of competition in which change is no longer an option, but a prerequisite for growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) VIETFISH 2026 may have concluded after three dynamic days in Ho Chi Minh City, but conversations around the exhibition continue to resonate across international trade media, industry organizations, and the social media channels of participating companies.
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