Mr. Nguyen Thanh Loc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries Association, most seafood processing enterprises in Ba Ria - Vung Tau area focus on products derived from wild-caught raw materials such as octopus, cuttlefish, anchovies, sardines and skipjack tuna. After processing, products mainly fall into two categories: frozen seafood (whole, filleted or breaded) and dried seafood (dried squid, sun-dried or without seasoning dried seafood).
“However, over 90% of exported products are still marketed under foreign importers’ brands. Vietnamese enterprises primarily play the role of subcontractors, without building their own supply chains or distribution systems. This results in thin profit margins and makes it difficult to directly accessing EU consumer demand.” Mr. Loc emphasized.
Notably, the processing capacity of Vietnamese enterprises is by no means inferior. Machinery and equipment are imported from Japan, South Korea, Germany and the Netherlands, while the workforce is abundant and highly skilled. However, indirect personnel responsible for sales and international market remain weak, lacking practical experience and confidence to independently expand in the EU.
As a result, over the past five years, export turnover to the EU for many enterprises in Ba Ria - Vung Tau has plummeted by 70-80%. Quite a few members of the Fisheries Association have had to shift to other markets, accepting lower profit margins.
In contrast to many subcontractors, HaiVuong Group (HVG) - a Vietnam’s leading tuna enterprise, presents a picture of both opportunities and challenges in EU integration.
According to Mr. Nguyen Van Du, Director of Vietnam Tuna Co., Ltd. (HVG), the group’s revenue in 2024 reached $301 million with the EU contributing nearly $68 million (22.78%). With five modern factories, cold storage capacity of over 30,000 tons and over 3,000 skilled workers, HVG exports more than 60,000 tons of finished products annually, reaching over 40 countries.
“The enterprise has met numerous international standards such as HACCP, BRC, Dolphin Safe and MSC, along with a transparent traceability system from fishing vessels to the dining table. The EVFTA helps HVG take advantage of tariff advantages, enhancing competitive.” Mr. Du stated.
However, HVG still faces significant challenges. The IUU yellow card remains the biggest non-tariff barrier, subjecting exports to the EU to strict monitoring. Additionally, high production costs, global logistics fluctuations and intense competition from Thailand, Indonesia and South America further erode profitability.
Mr. Du emphasized that to maintain market share in the EU, enterprises need comprehensive support: from lifting the IUU yellow card to establishing green transition investment funds, European trade promotion centers and developing a communication strategy to build the Vietnamese seafood brand.
According to the Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries Association, for enterprises to overcome difficulties, the government needs to urgently address impractical regulations in fisheries management while also creating mechanisms to support human resources specialized in international market development.
At the enterprise level, linking production–processing–distribution chains is essential to build collective strength instead of fragmented efforts. Some long-established exporters such as Baseafood, Hai Viet and Coimex are expected to act as “locomotives” to lead and support others in penetrating the EU market.
“As long as the IUU bottleneck is not resolved and we fail to establish our own distribution systems, our modern machinery and skilled workforce cannot be transformed into real value in the EU market” said Mr. Nguyen Thanh Loc, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fisheries Association.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(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.”
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