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.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
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
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