Vietnamese people are willing to spend money on high-end seafood, Norway brings king crab to promote its products

Vietnam currently accounts for about 27% of total Norwegian red king crab exports to Asia, surpassing long-standing traditional markets such as South Korea and Japan and second only to China.

Ms. Åshild Nakken - Director of Southeast Asia of the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) - highly appreciated Vietnam's potential for high-end seafood consumption - Photo: HK

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Nordic bloc of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein is entering its final stage. Last week, the 18th negotiation session took place in Da Nang (from November 25 to 28).

At a recent press conference promoting Norwegian king crab products in Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Åshild Nakken - Director of Southeast Asia of the Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC) - said that although it still takes time, if the FTA is signed, the import tax on Norwegian seafood to Vietnam can be reduced to 0%, creating a great driving force to expand two-way trade, especially for high-value products such as salmon and king crab.

Norway is increasing its presence in the Vietnamese market, with the ambition to strongly expand its market share of sustainable seafood, especially king crab.

NSC estimates that Norway currently holds 41% of the king crab market share in Vietnam and expects this to accelerate further once the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Nordic bloc - which includes Norway - is signed, bringing seafood import tax to 0%.

According to Ms. Åshild Nakken, Vietnam currently accounts for about 27% of the total amount of red king crab Norway exports to Asia, equivalent to 110 tons in 2024. This figure puts Vietnam ahead of long-standing traditional markets such as South Korea and Japan, and is now second only to China.

King crab after processing - Photo: HK

Ms. Nakken said that Vietnam is emerging as a strategic market thanks to the strong demand for sustainable and premium seafood products. In particular, Norwegian king crab is gradually becoming a premium gift product suitable for the Vietnamese gift-giving culture during holidays and Tet.

According to records, the price of fresh Norwegian king crab sold in Vietnam can reach 2.9 million VND/kg, with an average of 2.5 kg per crab. NSC believes that the increasing demand for high-quality seafood, along with the expansion of retail channels, supermarkets and e-commerce, will be the driving force to help Norwegian products reach a wider audience, not only in the high-end segment but also in the mid-range customer group.

According to Mr. Tran Van Truong - CEO of Royal Seafood, Norwegian seafood currently has two main products: salmon and king crab. While salmon is considered a daily food, king crab belongs to a higher-end segment. However, consumer trends have changed a lot.

"Consumers are switching from frozen crabs to live crabs. They want to choose live crabs, then prepare them according to their taste, choose the sauce they want. Currently, many restaurants nationwide have quickly caught up with this trend and expanded their service to serve fresh king crabs," Mr. Truong analyzed the current demand.

Sustainable exploitation

The Norwegian Seafood Council (NSC), part of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Seafood, is the representative body for all seafood exporters in Norway. NSC is responsible for market development, communication, marketing, training and adding value to Norwegian seafood in more than 25 countries, including Vietnam.

Talking about the success of the Norwegian seafood industry, including the growth of salmon products, the NSC representative said that this comes from three important foundations: favorable natural conditions, a strict sustainable development regulation system, and sustainable thinking ingrained in the people's fishing culture.

All exporters and fishermen must adhere to clear standards for protecting marine resources and the environment. This is a key competitive advantage that helps Norwegian seafood maintain its high position in the international market.

HAI KIM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-viet-chiu-chi-cho-hai-san-cao-cap-na-uy-dua-cua-hoang-de-sang-chao-hang-20251129182304013.htm