Vietnam’s aquatic product exports continued to show positive recovery signs in the first four months of 2026 and are moving towards the goal of US$12 billion for the whole year.

Vietnam’s seafood exports are projected to increase by about US$1 billion in 2026 compared to 2025, driven by recovering global demand and businesses’ efforts to adapt to changing market conditions.

Vietnam’s seafood exports posted steady growth in the first quarter of 2026, reaching an estimated US$2.64 billion, up nearly 8% year-on-year, supported largely by strong demand from China despite mixed performance across major markets.

Dong Thap province is accelerating efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by strengthening fleet supervision, tightening catch management and enhancing transparency throughout the seafood supply chain, as part of its push toward a more responsible and sustainable fisheries sector.

Vietnam’s exports of squid and octopus reached more than US$111 million in the first two months of 2026, up 23% year on year, reflecting a positive start for the sector and early signs of recovering demand across several markets.

Vietnam has become the fastest growing market for Norwegian salmon in Southeast Asia, with strong consumption growth set to accelerate further in 2026, according to the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC).

The Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2026 is scheduled to take place from September 3 to 5 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, offering Vietnamese seafood enterprises a new platform to engage directly with major global distributors and importers.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s seafood exports opened 2026 on a strong note, driven by a 20% rise in shrimp revenue to US$690 million, with lobster emerging as the standout performer, soaring 65% to US$259 million year on year.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s seafood sector is seeing strong export growth in early 2026 but faces pressure from the EU’s IUU yellow card, costs and climate change, requiring faster adjustment to sustain competitiveness.

The Vietnam Trade Office in the US, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) held talks with the US National Fisheries Institute (NFI) representatives on March 16 to address regulatory challenges for seafood exports to the US, especially the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.