Seafood exports reached $1.7 billion, expanding to 97 markets for the first time.
Vietnam's seafood exports increased by 20% in early 2026, reaching $1.7 billion. China became the largest market with an impressive growth rate of 54%.
Vietnam's seafood industry has just set a new milestone by expanding its presence to 97 countries and territories for the first time. According to data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), export turnover from the beginning of 2026 to date has reached approximately US$1.7 billion, a 20% increase compared to the same period last year.
China surges, US market records decline.
Ms. Le Hang, Deputy General Secretary of VASEP, said that China is currently the brightest spot in the export picture. With a 54% increase, this market reached a turnover of 513 million USD, officially becoming the largest customer of Vietnamese seafood. Besides that, other traditional markets such as Japan reached 233 million USD (up 5%) and South Korea reached 114 million USD (up 3%).
Conversely, the US market showed signs of stagnation with a turnover of $209 million, a decrease of 3%. The main reason identified was the impact of anti-dumping tax policies and increasingly stringent technical regulations from trading partners.
| Market | Trade value (Million USD) | Variation (%) |
|---|---|---|
| China | 513 | +54% |
| Japan | 233 | +5% |
| USA | 209 | -3% |
| Korea | 114 | +3% |
Shrimp and catfish play a leading role in cash flow.
Key export product groups continued to maintain positive growth momentum thanks to stable consumer demand. Shrimp played a leading role with a turnover of $690 million, an increase of 20%. Pangasius also recorded impressive results with $331 million, up 28% compared to the same period last year.
Notably, the shellfish segment saw the strongest growth, ranging from 38% to 39%. Other items such as squid and octopus reached $111 million (up 23%); crabs, lobsters, and other crustaceans increased by 24%. This shift indicates that global demand is increasingly focused on high value-added products.
Risk warnings and diversification strategies
Despite the positive growth figures, VASEP believes this trend is not entirely sustainable. Part of the result stems from businesses' tendency to prioritize early deliveries in anticipation of changes in tax policies and import regulations, particularly in the United States. The seafood industry continues to face significant pressure from rising logistics costs due to geopolitical instability and stringent environmental standards.
To protect its growth momentum, VASEP recommends that relevant authorities strengthen the early warning system for market risks. At the same time, businesses need to boost trade promotion in potential regions such as Brazil, South America, and South Asia to reduce dependence on saturated traditional markets.
