Vietnam's seafood export sector has shown significant growth in the first ten months of 2025, with shrimp and pangasius fish leading the charge, while tuna exports have seen a decline.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the country's seafood exports reached $9.5 billion, marking a 16% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Pangasius fish exports alone brought in $217 million in October, an 8% increase from October 2024, raising the total export value for this product to $1.8 billion, a 9% increase year-on-year.
In terms of market performance, exports to mainland China and Hong Kong (China) reached $73 million in October 2025, a 19% increase from the previous year, signaling a recovery in demand from China, especially towards the end of the year. Conversely, exports to the US fell by 17% to $29 million, while exports to Brazil saw a slight increase of 1% to $15 million. The UK market continued its downward trend, with exports dropping by 33% to $4 million.
Within the CPTPP bloc, Vietnam's pangasius exports reached $305 million, a 36% increase, accounting for 17% of the total pangasius export value. Notably, Malaysia showed a strong growth of 37%, reflecting an expanding demand in the region. In the EU, total exports reached $149 million, a modest 3% increase, with Spain showing a significant 22% growth, highlighting the varied demand across EU member states.
The frozen fillet segment (HS0304) achieved nearly $1.5 billion, an 11% increase, while other frozen, dried, and whole fish products remained stable. Processed pangasius products saw a 19% increase, indicating potential for value-added products in the export structure.
After a slowdown in Q3, October 2025 showed optimistic signs for Vietnam's pangasius exports, with some major markets showing positive trends, although others remained stagnant due to inventory and holiday import cycles. Looking ahead to Q4 2025, some major markets may continue to decline due to incomplete demand recovery. The key driver for the end of the year and into 2026 will be the POR20 results in the US, where a 0% anti-dumping duty could significantly boost importer confidence, despite a 20% countervailing duty impacting profit margins.
The strategic focus for Q4 2025 and 2026 will be expanding exports to the CPTPP bloc and the Middle East, where Vietnam benefits from tariff preferences and favorable market access conditions. The EU is also expected to maintain growth due to more flexible technical regulations for aquaculture products, creating opportunities for deeply processed pangasius products.
For shrimp, VASEP reported that exports reached $3.9 billion, a 22% increase. Exports to China and Hong Kong exceeded $1 billion, a 66% increase, making China the top importer of Vietnamese shrimp, accounting for 28.2% of total shrimp exports.
Experts predict a slight increase in China's shrimp imports in Q4 2025, driven by holiday and Lunar New Year demand. However, risks from border control policies and customs regulation changes remain, requiring exporters to be professional and adhere to new regulations to capitalize on opportunities.
In summary, shrimp continues to be the leading export product, with a 22% growth, while pangasius and squid-octopus also show positive growth. In contrast, tuna exports have declined by 4%. The seafood export sector is poised for sustainable growth if it can leverage tariff advantages and market shifts effectively.
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