CPTPP accounts for 28% of seafood exports
After the CPTPP came into effect, Vietnam's seafood exports to this market group grew by nearly 3% in 2019, of which exports to Japan and Australia all increased by 6%, to Brunei by 10%, and to Malaysia and Peru increased slightly by 1%.
In 2020 and 2021, seafood exports to the CPTPP bloc decreased by 2%, mainly due to the impact of Covid affecting trade and reducing import demand. Accordingly, exports to Japan decreased by 3% and 7% respectively in 2 years, which was the main reason for the decrease in total exports to this bloc.
However, exports to Canada, Australia, Malaysia, Mexico and New Zealand have been quite positive in the past 2 years. In which, seafood exports to Australia maintained positive growth for 3 consecutive years: increasing by 6%, 10% and 22% respectively. Exports to Canada in 2020 increased sharply by 14%, but in 2021, it decreased slightly by 2% due to the Covid epidemic causing increased freight rates, lack of shipping containers to North America. Exports to New Zealand increased sharply by 20% and 18% in 2 years 2020 - 2021. Exports to Mexico soared 65%, to Brunei increased 34% in 2021.
With a turnover of $2.2-2.3 billion per year, the position of the CPTPP bloc is more evident when its share in Vietnam's total seafood export turnover increased from 25% in 2018 to nearly 28. % in 2021.
Thanks to the EVFTA, exports to the EU are stable despite the Covid-19 epidemic
Vietnam's seafood exports to the EU in 2020 decreased by 26% to about 960 million USD, the main reason was due to Brexit, the UK leaving the market. The UK is a large import market of this block with seafood import turnover from Vietnam from 280 to 340 million USD/year. Therefore, if only counting EU27 (except for the UK), exports to this bloc in 2020 will not decrease. In the context of Covid and the IUU yellow card, stable exports to the EU show that the clear impact of the EVFTA agreement has boosted exports to this market.
In the first 9 months of this year, seafood exports to the EU market increased by nearly 4% to reach 744 million USD, in the context of Covid strongly affecting the logistics of trade, especially the supply chain in the third quarter. The current positive trend is probably partly due to the boost from preferential tariffs under the EVFTA.
In the first 7 months of 2021, shrimp and seafood exports to the EU and many CPTPP countries increased sharply thanks to higher demand after better control of Covid-19, maintaining a stable source of raw materials for export and application. Preferential tax on goods with domestic raw materials.
Shrimp exports to the EU in the first 7 months of the year increased by 26%. Total seafood products exported to the EU increased by 23%, only decreased in some species imported for processing and export such as cod, pollock... due to the impact of logistics issues on the import of raw materials for processing and export. public, production. Pangasius exports to the EU decreased by 13% due to high input costs (especially logistics, containers, sea) while export prices did not increase.
From August to now, exports have decreased continuously due to a strong outbreak of Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City and 19 southern provinces, affecting domestic raw material production, reducing the opportunity to take advantage of tariff preferences.
It is forecast that seafood exports to the EU in the fourth quarter will decrease slightly by 2.5% and in 2021 will reach about 1 billion USD, up 4%. It is forecasted that exports to the CPTPP in the fourth quarter will reach about 600 million USD, down 5% and the whole year 2021 will reach about 2.16 billion USD, down 3%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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