Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Nguyet, Deputy General Director of Directorate of Fisheries, said that by 2022, the growth rate of seafood production value will increase by 3% compared to 2021, the total output will reach 9.06 million tons, an increase of 3.1% compared to 2021. In which, fishing output reached 3.86 million tons; farming reached 5.19 million tons.
Notably, seafood export turnover in 2022 is estimated to reach a record of about 11 billion USD, up 23.8% over the same period in 2021 (8.89 billion USD) and 22.2% compared to the target of $9 billion. In which, export turnover of brackish water shrimp reached 4.1-4.2 billion USD (up nearly 13% compared to 2021); pangasius reached 2.35 billion USD (up nearly 70% compared to 2021).
However, in 2023, the seafood industry will face many difficulties and challenges. Firstly, difficulty in removing the IUU yellow card. Secondly, according to the latest assessment of the World Bank (WB), global growth will slow down in 2023, thus, affecting all import markets. Along with that is the challenge of standardizing the domestic production process, especially in terms of data to serve the industry's production.
The business representative, Ms. Le Hang, Communications Director of VASEP, said that market advantages in the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first quarter of 2023 will no longer exist. This is because inflation has heavily affected the world consumption demand , reducing exports in the first quarter of 2023.
“Currently, orders have dropped sharply, many businesses have not received orders for the first quarter of 2023. We also hope that from the second quarter or at least the second half of 2023, the world economy will gradually recover, market demand will increase, then we will have the opportunity to boost exports again. ", Ms. Le Hang said. She recommended businesses to prepare raw materials and resources, ready to return to production when the market recovers.
The seafood export turnover in 2022 has reached the highest turnover in recent years of 11 billion USD, making Vietnam's seafood industry the third largest seafood exporter in the world. Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that this result reflects the effort of stakeholders in the supply chain of the seafood industry, including seafood processing and exporting enterprises.
"Export value is estimated at 11 billion USD, a record level in history. This will be the foundation for the Ministry to direct the Directorate of Fisheries in its management tasks in early 2023, when the world economy is forecasted to face many difficulties", emphasized Mr. Phung Duc Tien.
In 2023, the fisheries industry set the target total aquaculture area of 1.3 million hectares; total seafood production of about 8.74 million tons and export turnover of about 10 billion USD. Mr. Phung Duc Tien said that the economy in general and fisheries in particular have faced difficulties since August 2022. On the basis of analyzing the achieved results, difficulties and challenges that the industry will face, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will direct the Directorate of Fisheries to implement solutions close to the actual situation to ensure sustainability and growth momentum to reach set export turnover.
At the same time, Deputy Minister Tien requested the fisheries industry to continue to strengthen the work of information and communication to the fishing community, businesses and related parties to stay fully, accurately and timely updated about the situation of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. In addition, the industry should consider the IUU "yellow card" as an opportunity to change mindsets and develop more sustainably.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
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