According to statistics from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), in June 2026, seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion, an increase of 21% compared to the same period in 2025. For the first six months of the year, export turnover reached nearly US$5.8 billion, an increase of 12.8%.
According to Ms. Le Hang, Deputy General Secretary of VASEP, in the first half of 2026, seafood export growth will not only come from a simple recovery of demand, but also reflect the ability to shift markets, adjust product structure, and better exploit areas with geographical advantages, lower costs, and stable consumption demand.
This point was also emphasized by VASEP in the context of importers becoming increasingly cautious: orders tend to be shorter, more fragmented, require more competitive prices, and have stricter controls on quality, certification, traceability, and delivery time.
Shrimp continues to be the largest export group of Vietnam's seafood industry. In June 2026, shrimp exports reached US$445.9 million, an increase of 20.7% compared to the same period last year. For the first six months of the year, shrimp exports reached US$2.3 billion, an increase of 13.6%, accounting for 40.5% of the total seafood export value. This group is the largest contributor to the overall growth of the entire industry and remains a decisive item in achieving the growth target for the whole year.
Pangasius catfish maintained its position as the second largest export pillar. In June 2026, pangasius catfish exports reached US$209.1 million, an increase of 7.7%. For the first six months of the year, pangasius catfish exports reached US$1.1 billion, an increase of 12.1%, accounting for 19.4% of total export value.
"This increase shows that demand for reasonably priced whitefish remains stable amidst consumer spending cuts in many markets. Vietnamese pangasius continues to have advantages in terms of price, large supply, flexible processing capabilities, and suitability for various consumption channels such as retail, restaurants, industrial kitchens, and reprocessing," Ms. Hang observed.
Amidst fluctuating prices of other whitefish species such as cod and pollock due to supply and trade policies, pangasius has increased competitiveness in some markets. However, the pangasius industry still faces challenges regarding raw material prices, feed costs, logistics costs, and regulatory requirements in the US market. To maintain growth momentum, businesses need to continue expanding into deeply processed products, including cut, marinated, and packaged products, as well as convenient product lines with competitive prices.
Other fish species, mainly marine fish and some freshwater fish, reached a scale nearly equivalent to pangasius. In June, exports of this group reached US$198.8 million, an increase of 19.8%; cumulative exports for the first six months reached US$1.1 billion, an increase of 12.0%, accounting for 19.3% of total export value.
This product group demonstrates the increasing diversification in the structure of Vietnam's seafood exports. However, harvested marine fish and seafood products still face significant pressure regarding raw material supply, legal fishing certification, traceability, and anti-IUU requirements from the EU and MMPA from the US.
Meanwhile, tuna exports showed mixed performance. In June 2026, tuna exports reached US$85.9 million, a 28% increase, but the cumulative figure for the first six months was only US$452.7 million, a 2% decrease. This indicates a recovery in June, but it is not enough to offset the declines of previous months. The tuna market is currently affected by slow purchasing power, rising raw material prices, increased canning costs, and growing demands for sustainable fishing practices. In the EU, stricter controls on fishing records, certifications, and electronic traceability systems may continue to impact customs clearance speeds and import plans.
The mollusk and crab/lobster sectors were a notable highlight. Exports of squid and octopus in June reached $77.9 million, up 26.5%; cumulative exports reached $380.2 million, up 18.8%. This group continued to be supported by demand from Asian markets such as South Korea, Japan, Thailand , and China.
In terms of markets, exports to China and Hong Kong continued to surge, the US recovered strongly in June, while the EU, Japan , and the Middle East experienced slow growth or slight declines.
"The market diversification strategy is paying off. Nearby markets with stable demand and less volatility in trade policies are helping to offset some of the slowdown in the US, EU, and Japan," Ms. Hang stated.
Besides market risks, the Deputy Secretary General of VASP stated that global container shipping rates are emerging as a major challenge for seafood exports in the second half of the year.
International container freight rates are approaching their highest levels in almost two years. Several major shipping indicators have seen significant year-on-year increases. A key factor is the increased booking demand from US importers amid concerns about new tariffs. The tendency to bring goods to warehouses early to avoid tariff risks has accelerated the year-end import season, increasing pressure on the spot market. For Vietnamese seafood businesses, the impact is most evident on routes to the US and EU, where refrigerated shipping costs are already higher than for dry cargo and are prone to surcharges.
"Overall, the $5.8 billion figure after six months provides a positive foundation for achieving double-digit growth in seafood exports in 2026. In the second half of the year, the seafood industry needs to simultaneously maintain momentum in growth markets such as China, ASEAN, and South Korea; strengthen compliance in the US, EU, and Japan; effectively control input costs and logistics; and increase the proportion of deeply processed, value-added products."
"In a market with shorter order times, more competitive pricing, and higher compliance requirements, the ability to manage costs, logistics, and market risks will determine the sustainability of Vietnam's seafood exports for the remainder of 2026," Ms. Hang stated.
Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/kinh-te/xuat-khau-thuy-san-doi-mat-ap-luc-chi-phi-logistics/20260701050822823
