Currently, the UK is the 7th largest cephalopod importing market in the EU, after Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Greece and Germany. After the peak in 2010, imports decreased and hovered at 9,500MT/year.
The UK is the second largest economy in the EU after Germany, with relatively high income per capita. Seafood such as tuna, cod, salmon, haddock, shrimp is popular.
Squid frozen/dried/salted or in brine (HS 030749) was the major imported item, making up for over 67% of total imports, followed by processed squid (HS 160554) with 16% and octopus frozen/dried/salted or in brine (HS 030 759) with 14.2%.
Consumption trend has been changing these years. In 2010, about 90.2% of total seafood imports were frozen squid, which now accounted for only 67%. This leaves spaces for increase in imports processed squid and frozen octopus.
Like in other EU markets, consumers in the UK are dependent on supplies from Africa or Mexico. Not until recently have they eyed on suppliers from Asia such as Thailand, India, China, Vietnam or Indonesia. This is a golden opportunity Vietnamese companies.
|
Cephalopod imports into the UK (Unit: $US mil) |
||||||||
|
No |
Origin |
2014 |
2015 |
|||||
|
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
2014 |
Jan |
Feb |
||
|
1 |
Spain |
1,039 |
1,309 |
1,120 |
1,077 |
4,545 |
278 |
266 |
|
2 |
Thailand |
926 |
1,346 |
633 |
1,308 |
4,213 |
246 |
261 |
|
3 |
China |
1,464 |
771 |
723 |
330 |
3,288 |
62 |
10 |
|
4 |
India |
526 |
731 |
774 |
989 |
3,020 |
114 |
329 |
|
5 |
The US |
282 |
296 |
406 |
554 |
1,538 |
119 |
253 |
|
6 |
Vietnam |
54 |
469 |
512 |
407 |
1,442 |
22 |
186 |
|
7 |
Indonesia |
389 |
208 |
207 |
401 |
1,205 |
102 |
|
|
8 |
Demark |
399 |
263 |
253 |
146 |
1,061 |
51 |
31 |
|
9 |
France |
218 |
240 |
208 |
251 |
917 |
49 |
177 |
|
10 |
Portugal |
103 |
195 |
240 |
224 |
762 |
73 |
44 |
|
11 |
Malaysia |
155 |
205 |
74 |
73 |
507 |
292 |
78 |
|
12 |
South Africa |
157 |
- |
71 |
145 |
373 |
- |
- |
|
13 |
The Netherlands |
101 |
90 |
70 |
48 |
309 |
38 |
40 |
|
14 |
Italy |
24 |
113 |
41 |
55 |
233 |
24 |
24 |
|
15 |
Belgium |
41 |
32 |
42 |
51 |
166 |
26 |
14 |
|
World |
6.056 |
6,775 |
5,885 |
6,246 |
24,962 |
1,615 |
1,771 |
|
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
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