GENERAL INFORMATION

In Vietnam, the fishery sector plays an important role in the national economy, accounting for about 4-5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 9-10% of national export revenue.

More than 4 millions of people working in the fishery and the growth in production have attributed to the fish exports. Thanks to strongly increase in many years, Vietnam ranks among the top ten seafood suppliers and its seafood products are exported to 170 markets in the world.

Shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid and octopus are main seafood products exported by the country. In which, shrimp exports create about US$ 3.5 – 4 billion, make up 46-50% of the total seafood sales of Vietnam. Earnings from pangasius reached at US$ 1.7 – 1.8 billion (25% of the total) and exports from Tuna and Cephalopods are US$ 450 – 550 million for each.

Exports to the U.S, Japan, EU, China and South Korea make up 75% of Vietnam’s seafood sales to the wolrd.

5 advantages for Vietnam seafood exports:  

(1)  High commitment and participation from Government, Industry and companies for food safety, environment  and social responsibility;

(2)  Able to supply the big volume and safe quality and stable seafood products;

(3)  Meet all the customers’ requirements, incl. the vertical linkage (integration) for each species sector;

(4)  Vietnam is one in few countries in the world which has the good and stable labor resource; 

(5)  Vietnam has Agreements / FTAs with many countries and territories and has advantages both in product quality and im-ex tax.  

Export potentials

Vietnam has great potential and advantages to develop oyster production chains, experts said at a conference on aquaculture technology organised in Ho Chi Minh City on February 14 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2022, Vietnam pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong reached 712 million USD, up 58% compared to 2021. The two main product lines exported to China are frozen pangasius fillets (HS code 030462) accounted for over 74% of the value with 531 million USD and frozen pangasius butterfly (HS code 030324) accounted for over 25% with nearly 180 million USD.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although the US economy grew more than expected in the last quarter of 2022, consumer demand in the US consumer group remained low. This also shows that the economic recession is still a big risk in 2023. And this will definitely affect Vietnam's tuna exports to the US.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although in the last quarter of 2022, Vietnam's pangasius exports fell to the lowest level of the year with 475 million USD, down 12% compared to the same period in 2021 due to the impact of inflation. However, compared to other seafood sectors, pangasius still has a better prospect in 2023, thanks to positive signals from two major markets, China and the US.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2023, following the trend of the last quarter of the previous year, Vietnam seafood exports continued to decline deeply. It is estimated that in the first month of the year, seafood exports decreased by 31%, reaching about 600 million USD. In which, pangasius decreased by 50%, shrimp decreased by 46%, tuna decreased by 32%. Only cephalopods and other marine fishes were able to maintain a positive growth of 4% and 6% respectively.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After the 2023 Lunar New Year, most workers at producing and processing agricultural and aquatic products factories have returned to work.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the first working day after the Tet holiday, workers of Hung Ca Co.Ltd are busy preparing for an export order of 21 pangasius fillets (equivalent to 400 tons). The company’s leaders are very optimistic about the pangasius exports in the new year. In 2022, the company exports pangasius worthed about 350 million USD.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanks to the changing market structure and increase in deep processing, FIMEX VN, one of the mainstay shrimp exporters in Mekong Delta recorded high export revenue.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the meeting to summarize the agricultural sector in 2022 on the afternoon of January 10, the leader of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Soc Trang province, said that the total area of aquaculture in the province reached 75,355 hectares (freshwater, brackish water, salt water ), exceeding 0.47% of the plan (75,000 ha) and increasing 4.28% over the previous year. Total seafood production of Soc Trang province reached 352,763 tons, exceeding 0.22% of the plan (352,000 tons), increasing by 0.6% compared to the previous year (2,121 tons).

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to SSI Securities Corporation (SSI), inflation in 2023 continues to be a challenge for Vietnam's seafood industry. In that context, the pangasius industry is expected to prosper when the largest export market, China, has reopened.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius is increasingly being used by consumers in the world because of its convenience, neutral texture and taste, easy processing and affordable price that can fit every market segment. By 2022, Vietnamese pangasius has conquered more than 140 markets around the world, including markets with strict requirements on food safety and technical regulations such as the US, EU and markets that farmed fish used to be unpopular like Japan.

Vietnam will investigate and handle all cases of the country’s fishing vessels being arrested by foreign countries, strictly punish all acts related to illegal fishing in the foreign waters and name them on the mass media, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.

Authorities of the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang have taken a wide range of measures to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as a part of the national efforts to remove the European Commission (EC)’s ‘yellow card’ warning against Vietnam’s seafood exports.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Australians are increasingly using Vietnamese shrimp, from restaurants to large Australian supermarkets or Asian stores, Vietnamese shrimp are abundantly present.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In December 2022, Vietnam's seafood exports reached 785 million USD, continuing a 13% decrease compared to the same period in 2021. However, thanks to continuous growth in the first 10 months of the year, the seafood exports have reached 11 billion USD, an increase of nearly 24% compared to 2021.


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