Of the total export value of marine products in the first 5 months of 2021, marine fish products accounted for 75% (tuna accounted for 22%, other fish accounted for 53%). Products of cephalopods and bivalve molluscs account for 20%, the rest are crabs and other crustaceans.
Compared to the same period in 2020, Vietnam's exports of seafood product groups increased in the first 5 months of this year. Notably, exports of cephalopods reached USD 216 million, up 13%; bivalve molluscs reached $48 million, up 44%.
In terms of structure, processed mollusk products, such as dried/baked squid, other processed squid, processed bivalve products, etc., have been Vietnam's mainstays in the past 5 months.
Exports to main markets continue to increase
Excluding tuna, the 5 largest import markets for other marine products of Vietnam include: CPTPP accounted for 26%, South Korea accounted for 11%, the US accounted for 8%, China accounted for 7% and the EU accounted for 5%. Compared to the same period in 2020, Vietnam's exports of other marine products to these 5 markets all increased over the same period, CPTPP increased by 7%, South Korea increased by 6%, the US increased by 55%, China increased by 2%. and the EU increased by 31%.
In the CPTPP market, Japan is the largest import market and also the largest single market for Vietnam's seafood imports, accounting for 20%, reaching 298 million USD. Over the same period, the export value of marine products to this market only increased slightly by 1%. For squid and octopus, Japan is also the second largest single market. However, compared to the same period, Vietnam's cephalopod exports to this country decreased by 9%.
Exports to South Korea, the largest export market of Vietnam's cephalopods, continued to grow in May. The export value of Vietnam's marine products to this market in the first five months of the year reached more than 157 million USD, of which nearly 89 million USD comes from cephalopod exports.
After Korea is the US market with the import value of marine products from Vietnam reaching more than 113 million USD. In the past 3 months, the expansion of vaccination against Covid-19 and the economic stimulus package of the US Government have been the driving force for the recovery of seafood consumption demand, not only in the food service and restaurant hotel segments, but also in the retail segment. This is creating favorable conditions for marine product enterprises to promote exports to this market. Notably, exports of squid and octopus to this market are growing at a high rate. Particularly in May, Vietnam's octopus exports to the US are increasing at a "galloping" rate of 538% over the same period of 2020.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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
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