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) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the global food market is facing increasing volatility in logistics costs, energy prices, and supply chains. In the seafood sector, alongside ocean-caught products such as tuna, the surimi-based product group—including fish cakes, crab sticks, fish balls, and other imitation seafood products—has also been affected to some extent by these developments.
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