The US holds the first position in Vietnam's seafood export market, accounting for 23% of total export value. This is also the No 1 market for Vietnam shrimp, making up for 21% (particularly vannamei shrimp exported to the US accounted for 25%). Vietnam tuna exports to the US contribute to an overwhelming proportion of 54%. For pangasius, the US is the second market after China, accounting for 25.6%.
In the US market, except for the drop of 10% in the mollusks shells, other key products such as pangasius, tuna…also recorded high growths in comparison to the same period of 2021. Especially, pangasius export recorded a growth rate of 131% over the same period.
Vietnam panagasius exports accelarate in the first 5 months of the year
There were 5 main reasons that affected the rise in Vietnam's pangasius export to the US in the first 5 months of the year. Firstly, the production of catfish in the US has decreased, secondly is the high inflation. Thirdly, the antidumping duty of POR17 brought many favorable conditions for Vietnam pangasius exporters. Fourtly, the number of Vietnam pangasius exporters allowed to export to the US increased and finally Vietnam pangasius export’s price to US reached the record.
In the first 5 months of this year, whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp exports to the US increased by 33% and 29% respectively over the same period last year. Vietnam is a leading supplier of peeled and deveined shrimp (PD shrimp) to the US market. Total shrimp exports to the US reached nearly 390 million USD, up 32% over the same period last year.
Regarding tuna export, Vietnam mainly exports frozen tuna loin/ fillet to the US, accounting for 74%. In the first 5 months of 2022, Vietnam tuna export to the US achieved 251 million USD, twice as high as the same period last year. In particular, tuna loin reached 186 million USD, a rise of 184%.
In the first 4 months of the year, the US imported more than 1 million tons of seafood in volume and 10 billion USD in value, up 14% and 34% respectively to the same period 2021, the average import price increased by 17%. In which, shrimp is the most consumed product, accounting for 28%, the import value went up by 32% because of the 13% rise in the import price.
China new policy preventing Covid-19 affect the transportation
The demand for seafood and seafood imports into the US is forecasted to remain high due to the impact of the Russia - Ukraine war and the continuous US - China trade. However, after a hot growth in the first half of theyear, Vietnam's seafood exports to the US in the second half of the year will grow slowlier than the first half of the year in response to the supply - demand trend and logistic factors assessed by experts such as:
A sharp increase in raw materials from other countries may push down import prices
Increased competition between suppliers
Many inventory plus falling prices make importers more hesitant to buy in bulk
The next big purchase will be around the beginning of Q3 to prepare for Thanksgiving
Difficulties in the logistics such as high transportation costs, shipping delays and prolonged lack of containers also lead to reticent purchases.
High packaging costs and scared of delivery trucks
Global oil price inflation exacerbates the problem
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
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