At the annual general meeting held in mid-April, Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Board at Sao Ta Foods (FMC), stated that in the worst-case scenario—where Vietnam faces a 46% tariff while other countries face around 20%—the company may have to withdraw from the U.S. market.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Sao Ta and its subsidiaries exported more than USD 46 million worth of products to the U.S. Including shipments currently in transit over the past 40 days, that figure could exceed USD 60 million. Accelerating exports ahead of the new tariff implementation is seen as a risk-mitigation strategy during the 90-day tariff delay granted by the U.S. government.
Should it be forced to leave the U.S. market, Sao Ta plans to strengthen its presence in Canada, Australia, South Korea, and particularly Japan. China is also considered a promising market, which the company is monitoring closely to enter when conditions allow.
Meanwhile, at the general meeting of Vinh Hoan Corporation—Vietnam’s top pangasius exporter—CEO Nguyen Ngo Vi Tam said the company had carefully evaluated the potential impact of new tariffs on its profit margins. Despite the risks, U.S. buyers have maintained stable demand and are urging the company to accelerate the growth cycle of its fish to meet market needs. Vinh Hoan’s leadership emphasized there is no reason yet to be pessimistic or to withdraw from the U.S., and the company plans to maximize exports during the 90-day grace period.
Still, Vinh Hoan has adopted a cautious outlook for 2025, setting a profit target of VND 1,000 billion, down VND 226 billion from its 2024 result.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), a surge in seafood exports to the U.S. is expected in May and June ahead of the new tariffs taking effect on July 9. Vietnamese firms are rushing to finalize contracts and offer competitive pricing to retain market share, with export values to the U.S. projected to rise by 10–15% compared to April.
Conversely, shipments to other markets such as China and ASEAN are likely to stall, with expected growth of only 3–5%. This is largely due to heightened competition from Chinese seafood, which is being redirected to nearby markets after facing steep tariffs from the U.S.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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