This positive result is thanks to the easing of social distancing and reopening in localities from October 1 to restore production.
Exports of most major aquatic products recorded positive growth: tuna and cephalopod exports both increased by 18%, crabs increased by 13%, shrimp increased by 1.6%. The growth figures show that seafood export production is gradually stabilizing and recovering clearly.
Particularly, pangasius exports still fell by 18% in October, reaching only 139 million USD, due to a lack of raw materials and pangasius production and processing activities in localities were still moderate due to the impact of the Covid epidemic.
In October 2021, Vietnam's seafood exports to the US recovered the most, increasing by 31%, to the EU by 9%, to South Korea by 20%, and to Canada by 17%. However, exports to China continued to fall deeply by 43%.
By the end of October 2021, the country's seafood exports reached US$7.1 billion, a slight increase of 2.4%, of which shrimp reached US$3.2 billion, up 2.6%, and pangasius reached 1.2 billion USD equivalent to the same period last year, tuna reached 598 million USD, up 10%, cephalopod reached 475 million USD, up 4.5%, other fish decreased by nearly 1% to 1.36 billion USD. Particularly, bivalve molluscs maintained a high growth rate of 39% after 10 months, reaching 113 million USD.
The US accounted for 24% of turnover with nearly 1.7 billion USD, up 25% over the same period, Japan accounted for 15% with 1.08 billion USD, down 7%. China and the EU both accounted for 12% with a value of USD 872 million, down 24% and USD 864 million, up 7% over the same period last year. Exports to South Korea accounted for 9%, reaching US$643 million, up slightly by 2%.
Demand from import markets is still high, seafood processing production is recovering and will grow again in the next 2 months because vaccination rates in the Mekong Delta provinces increase rapidly, limiting the impact. of the Covid epidemic.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK have shown positive signs in the first months of 2026. While the UK’s overall tuna imports from the world declined, imports from Vietnam increased strongly, indicating that there is still room for Vietnam to expand its market share. However, behind this growth, competitive pressure remains intense, especially as the UK continues to be a major market for established suppliers such as Ecuador, Mauritius, and Ghana.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Biofloc technology is being piloted in several rice–shrimp farming models in Ca Mau Province, showing initial positive results in controlling pond environments, improving shrimp seed quality, and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
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