(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of April 2025, Vietnam's cephalopod exports continued to grow, though the pace of growth has been inconsistent. According to Vietnam Customs data, export value of cephalopods in the first four months of the year reached over USD 215 million, an increase of 18% compared to the same period in 2024. Among cephalopod products, squid exports showed a stronger upward trend.
Among key importing markets, exports to Japan, Thailand, and the U.S. posted strong growth, while shipments to South Korea and the EU saw slight increases. In contrast, exports to China and Hong Kong declined. Notably, the sharp rise in early-year exports helped Thailand surpass China & Hong Kong to become Vietnam’s third-largest cephalopod import market during this period.
Vietnamese cephalopod exporters are currently facing multiple challenges, particularly raw material shortages and rising production costs. In addition, weakening consumer demand, tighter household spending, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, and the Hamas-Israel conflict have all contributed to increased sea freight rates, which are eroding company profit margins.
In 2025, the global cephalopod market is experiencing significant volatility driven by factors such as climate change, rising consumption demand, and sustainability concerns. Specifically, the El Niño phenomenon disrupted the regeneration of squid stocks, leading to supply shortages in several regions by the end of 2024. Furthermore, the cephalopod industry is also grappling with issues of overfishing and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, necessitating tighter regulatory controls.
Looking ahead, with stable demand from major markets and a trend of rising prices, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports are expected to continue growing in the second half of 2025. However, stricter regulations on traceability, transparency, and sustainability in markets such as the EU and the U.S. are expected to pose additional challenges for exporters targeting these regions.