Shrimp, pangasius and tuna are the three main product lines exported to the US, accounting for 53%, 17% and 15.6% of total seafood exports to this market, respectively.
In the first 9 months of the year, shrimp exports to the US increased 22% to 775 million USD. The US is currently Vietnam's largest shrimp export market, accounting for 28% of shrimp exports. In which, whiteleg shrimp reached USD 690 million, up 20%, black tiger shrimp reached USD 68 million, up 46%.
Pangasius exports to the US reached 248 million USD, up 43%, mainly frozen pangasius fillets/portion (HS code 0304) reached 243 million USD. The US is currently behind China in importing Vietnamese pangasius, accounting for 23% of export value.
For tuna, the US is also the largest market, accounting for 43.5% share, with 226 million USD in the first 9 months of this year, up 8% over the same period last year.
In addition to whiteleg shrimp, pangasius, tuna, Vietnam also sharply increased crab exports to the US in the past time, with $ 34 million in first 9 months, an increase of 68%.
The US market is recovering strongly in demand while the domestic seafood supply, which is already very low, usually only meets 10% of domestic consumption, has been reduced because of production interruption during Covid. Lack of raw materials, lack of labor, seafood prices in the US increased. Therefore, the demand for imported seafood is very large, especially shrimp and crab products...
According to Fas.usda data, in the first 8 months of this year, the US imported more than 2 million tons of seafood, worth over 18 billion USD, up 14% in volume and 30% in value, showing that the average import price increased sharply compared to the same period last year. . In which, shrimp imports increased 24% in volume and 26% in value, reaching 540 thousand tons, valued at $4.9 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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