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) 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
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