In particular, free trade agreements with Russia and Europe will help Vietnam exports with reduced tax.
Currently, Vietnam is negotiating with the EU in the framework of FTA known as EVFTA. Reportedly, the most recent, the 11th negotiation round took place in Brussels, Belgium in from 19th to 23rd January 2015. Significant progress has been made in this session. Tax on pangasius as well as other seafood was agreed to be strongly cut. The European countries are demanding markets with tariff barriers and strict regulations of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) on imported seafood. Enterprises, therefore, expect much from this FTA to boast pangasius exports to these markets.
It is expected that the negotiation will finish this year. Currently, average tariff on frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304) is 6.88%, and tariff on frozen pangasius fillets is 5.5%. In 2014, Vietnam pangasius exports to the EU valued at US$ 344.29 million, down nearly 11% compared to 2013. The EU now accounts for 19.5% of total Vietnam pangasius export turnover. Despite declines in recent years, Vietnam, holding over 95% of the market share, maintained its position as the leading pangasius and catfish provider and in top 12 frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304) to the EU in 2014.
With EVFTA, tariff and non-tariff barriers will be lifted, giving processors from Vietnam more opportunities to expand markets, import materials from the third for processing and re-exporting to the EU.
Beside exempting most taxes (90% of all taxes) in 7 years, EVFTA will support Vietnamese businesses with investments and technical transfer to sustainably access the EU market and attract foreign more investments into Vietnam. According to experts, as tax rates stay lower than 3% or 4%, Vietnam will get more benefits against other competitors. Currently, frozen fish fillets from Vietnam exported to the EU are levied at 5.5%, which will decrease after EVFTA takes effect.
Negotiation for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Customs Union, including 3 countries namely Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, is also expected to end negotiation rounds this year. At least 80% of goods from Vietnam exported to Russia, including fisheries products will be tax-exempted. Currently Russia is imposing tax of 5.63% on frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam. In 2014, Vietnam pangasius exports to Russia valued US$ 33.24 million, down from 2013. Russia accounts for 1.88% of the of total pangasius export turnover of Vietnam. Meanwhile, exports to Belarus and Kazakhstan both increased from 2013, valued at US$ 2.09 million and US$ 3.14 million, respectively. The proportion of exports to these markets was not high. The former accounted for 0.12% and the latter made up 0.18%.
In brief, Vietnam seafood exports will benefit from the FTAs, at least for the European market and Customs Union as taxes are lower while China, Thailand, Norway are still subject to high tariffs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(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) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
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