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%.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
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