Customs data showed Vietnam’s aquatic exports reeled in $1.12 billion in August, up 13.8% from a year ago, shrugging off choppy global markets.
From January to August, exports soared 16.7% year-on-year to $7.34 billion. Shrimp led the charge, with lobster hauls booming, pangasius (tra fish) making a comeback, and mollusks like squid, octopus and bivalves raking in big gains. Tuna, though, took a hit from supply and demand disruptions.
Top buyers included countries in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), China and the U.S., which imported $234 million worth of Vietnamese pangasius in the first eight months, up 3.7%. The EU and South Korea also remained steady markets.
Le Hang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), projected growth in September and October, but warned of a slowdown from late November, signaling tougher times ahead.
She highlighted mounting challenges, including tariff shifts and market barriers. In the U.S., a 20% retaliatory tariff undercuts Vietnam’s competitiveness against rivals like Thailand, Indonesia and Ecuador. The shrimp sector faces further pressure from potentially steep anti-dumping duties in the upcoming 19th administrative review (POR19).
Worse, the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act equivalency assessments denied certification for 12 Vietnamese fisheries, including key currency earners like tuna, mackerel, squid, octopus and some crustaceans. From Jan. 1, 2026, these products will be barred from the U.S., putting more than $500 million in yearly exports at risk.
To counter these headwinds, Vietnamese exporters are casting their nets wider, targeting Asia, the Middle East and South America while doubling down on value-added processing to stay competitive. Pangasius exports to China are softening, but shipments to CPTPP, ASEAN and South American markets are growing briskly. Japan, Canada, and Mexico are hooked on tariff perks and crave safe, convenient products, making them prime long-term targets.
Nearby markets like Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore are also gobbling up pangasius, thanks to low shipping costs and similar tastes. ASEAN markets are increasingly seen as a stable alternative to far-off, regulation-heavy markets.
While frozen fillets still rule, deeply processed pangasius products are growing fastest, indicating that exporters are adapting to consumers’ hunger for convenience.
Shrimp exports are holding strong, particularly in high-value EU markets. Eurostat projected EU shrimp imports could reach 400,000 tonnes in 2025, a multi-year high, giving Vietnam a shot at bigger profits.
Industry experts said it is time to stop competing on price and focus on quality, transparency and sustainability. Certifications like ASC, organic and carbon-smart are becoming must-haves for retail shelves, and standardising antibiotic controls is also critical.
Focusing on fast-growing EU markets like Germany, Belgium, France and Denmark, where premium products are in demand, could optimize resources. Expanding value-added, deeply processed shrimp products will also help Vietnam fend off rivals like Ecuador and India, they said.
To keep the industry thriving, VASEP is pushing for coordinated aquaculture zoning, tighter quality controls and a swift fix to the EU’s “yellow card” on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing. It is also seeking solutions to break through U.S. tariff and technical walls, determined to safeguard Vietnam’s seafood export boom.
