In October 2018, the European Council (EC) officially approved EVFTA. The agreement was signed in Hanoi on 30 June 2019.
After being effective, EVFTA will be considered as an opportunity for Vietnamese seafood enterprises to increase export value to this market. According to commitments in EVFTA, Vietnamese seafood exported to the EU will be completely eliminated tariff (except canned tuna and fish balls applying tariff quota of 11,500 tons) with the longest schedule of 7 years. Particularly, shrimp products will be more optimistic as import tax on this market will drop sharply from the first year, then gradually decrease to 0% in the following years.
The EU mainly imports frozen raw shrimp and processed shrimp from Vietnam. For frozen shrimp and prawn products, tax is reduced from the base rate of 20% to 0% as soon as the agreement comes into effect. Other shrimp products will reduce following a 3-5 year schedule, particularly processed shrimp will follow a 7-year tax reduction schedule.
Currently, the GSP tax rate that EU sets to Vietnam for frozen raw shrimp (HS 030617) of 4.2%; Frozen processed shrimp (HS 160521) enjoyed 7%. Vietnam has an advantage over the two rival countries, Thailand and China as these two countries do not enjoy GSP from the EU.
In addition to tax incentives, EVFTA also gives Vietnamese enterprises an opportunity to increase their competitiveness compared to competitors without FTA with the EU (such as India and Thailand). Enterprises can save production costs to increase competition as it is easier to access production services when Vietnam is committed to opening logistics, insurance, finance services ...
Enterprises also have conditions to participate in regional supply chains thanks to the investment movement of multinational corporations, ensuring a stable and transparent institutional and business environment (thanks to improving regulations and policies according to FTA terms).
However, there will be new challenges for Vietnam's fisheries sector when participating in EVFTA such as: conditions on technical barriers, quality standards, rules of origin, and more new and complex regulations, while Vietnam's products are less competitive in price compared to FTA partner countries...
Enterprises need to strengthen cooperation, focus on linkage chain to improve productivity, technological innovation, participate in global supply chains.
In the first 5 months of 2019, Vietnam shrimp exports to the EU reached 243.4 million, down 26.3% compared to the same period of 2018. The UK, Germany and the Netherlands are the 3 main importors for Vietnamese shrimp in the EU market. Shrimp exports to the UK in May have shown positive signs: an increase of 11.6% to over US$18 million.
With preferential tariffs and a favourable business environment, Vietnamese exporters will have an advantage over many other shrimp exporter such as India and Thailand. It is forecasted that EVFTA will contribute to increase the export of Vietnamese shrimp to the EU in 2019.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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