China leads Vietnam's nine-month seafood export growth
VOV.VN - China, including Hong Kong, accounted for roughly 62% of Vietnam’s seafood export growth in the first nine months of the year, while purchasing power in traditional markets such as the US, EU, and Japan slowed down.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), seafood exports reached over US$1.1 billion in September, bringing the nine-month total to more than US$9 billion, an 11.4% increase year-on-year.
China (including Hong Kong) was the most prominent market, generating US$2.3 billion over the nine-month period, up 33%. Accounting for about 62% of the sector's total added export value, the market recorded growth across major product lines, including shrimp, Tra fish, crabs, and marine fish.
Meanwhile, exports to ASEAN grew by 21% to exceed US$0.6 billion, and shipments to South Korea rose by over 16% to reach US$0.65 billion. Conversely, traditional markets such as the US, the EU, and Japan grew by less than 1% over the reviewed period, experiencing declines in September as demand softened.
However, the sector faces increasing competitive pressures as Beijing lifts its summer fishing ban and resumes import permissions for certain Ecuadorian shrimp facilities, posing pricing challenges for Vietnamese goods. Regarding product structure, positive growth was maintained across shrimp, Tra fish, tuna, and crustaceans.
Looking ahead to the final quarter, VASEP projects that export growth will moderate as end-of-year orders were fulfilled early, compounded by domestic supply bottlenecks and traceability requirements.
VASEP expects full-year exports to reach US$12 billion, with the note that while China and ASEAN will remain key buyers through year-end, they will struggle to fully offset losses if demand in traditional markets continues to stall.
Vietnam’s meat and seafood imports top US$4 billion in eight months
VOV.VN - Vietnam spent more than US$4 billion on meat and seafood imports in the first eight months of 2026, reflecting diverse overseas supplies and growing competitive pressure on domestic producers.
