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) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
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
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn
