Growth seen in 2025 has further expanded room for cooperation in the seafood sector as a contribution to the deepening of the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Statistics from Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority indicate that in 2024, Vietnam moved up from sixth to fifth place among Singapore’s largest seafood suppliers for the first time. The upward trend continued in the first quarter of 2025, when Vietnam climbed to fourth place. Over the past nine months of the year, Vietnam rose further and maintained its position as Singapore’s third-largest seafood supplier.

The data highlight the growing role of Vietnamese seafood in the Singapore market, as consumer preferences increasingly favor Vietnamese products and the national brand and product quality continue to gain recognition.

Kenneth Chia, President of the Seafood Industries Association Singapore (SIAS), said trade between Vietnam and Singapore has expanded steadily for more than two decades. Many Singaporean companies view Vietnam as a key sourcing market for seafood, with several having staff based in Vietnam to procure products directly, helping build strong relationships and mutual trust.

He said Singaporean companies had used and trusted Vietnamese products, adding that many Vietnamese firms had met their requirements very well.
Singapore has almost no domestic agriculture, with around 90% of its food demand met through imports. Its high per-capita income has driven strong demand for quality food products, while a small population and diverse demographic structure make the market well suited for testing new products before wider global rollout.

The recent growth of Vietnamese seafood exports to Singapore reflects a combination of factors, including effective use of free trade agreements, coordinated export-promotion policies, the involvement of ministries, local authorities and industry associations, and the dynamism of Vietnamese seafood enterprises. The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore has also played an important role in facilitating two-way trade and business linkages.

Cao Xuan Thang, Vietnam’s Trade Counselor in Singapore, noted that Singapore is an open market, with government policies focused on diversifying supply sources to ensure food security. To remain competitive, he said, Vietnamese seafood companies should prioritize quality management across the value chain, from aquaculture and processing to traceability, sustainable farming practices and technological upgrades, to ensure stable quality and output.

He also stressed the need to apply technology and digital solutions to monitor quality from broodstock to final products, while adopting e-commerce and digital payment systems to raise productivity, reduce costs and enhance competitiveness. In addition, he called for stronger value chains and business linkages, market diversification, and greater capacity-building for enterprises, industry associations and the workforce, alongside improved awareness of social and environmental responsibilities.

ASEAN remains one of Vietnam’s key partners and a major transshipment gateway to global markets, particularly as demand for processed, value-added and convenience seafood products continues to rise. Within ASEAN, Singapore stands out as a global seafood trading hub, supported by advantages in logistics, seaports, warehousing and a leading regional financial system.

Strengthening trade cooperation with ASEAN in general and Singapore in particular can therefore help Vietnam maintain stable export growth. Singapore should be viewed as a springboard for Vietnamese seafood products to reach regional and global markets, rather than as the final destination.

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