According to statistics from Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in 2023, Vietnam's export turnover of shellfish products reached 127 million USD, down 12% compared to the previous year. Vietnam's main exported shellfish species include clams accounting for 62%; snails accounted for 12%, oysters accounted for 11% and scallops accounted for nearly 9%. In addition, there are a number of species with modest export value including oysters, mussels, abalone and mussels.
Clams are mollusk product with the largest export turnover, reaching nearly 79 million USD, down 17% compared to 2022, due to a deep decrease in exports to two main markets, Spain and Italy, of 15% and 36%.
Frozen steamed clams (HS code 16055600) is main export product with a value of 72 million USD. Particularly for frozen steamed clams in Europe, products from Vietnam always rank No.1, holding a dominant market share of 40-80% in main markets.
The US is Vietnam's fourth largest clam import market but also recorded a decrease of 16%. In this market, Chinese frozen steamed clam products account for a large proportion of 50% and average export price is usually 20 - 40% lower than Vietnamese products, so Vietnamese clams are more difficult to compete with in the US.
In 2023, in the top 10 largest clam export markets there were China and Cambodia with breakthrough increases. Clam export turnover to China increased 34 times and to Cambodia increased nearly 16 times compared to 2022. These two countries import mainly live silk clams from Vietnam.
Oysters are a product with breakthrough export growth in 2023 with an increase of 56%, reaching over 14 million USD, mainly fresh and chilled oysters. In particular, Taiwan (China) market alone consumes over 77% of Vietnam's oyster exports with a value of nearly 11 million USD, an increase of 26% compared to 2022. In addition, Vietnam also exports chilled fresh oysters to Laos, Cambodia, Japan...
For snails, Vietnam exports mainly frozen apple snails and frozen sweet snails, in addition to wool snails, rhinoceros snails and other types of snail meat. In 2023, exported snail products reached nearly 16 million USD, down 6%. Main consume markets include Japan, the US, China, and Korea. Exports to most markets decreased compared to 2022, except for Korea, which increased by 47% with main products being apple snails and sea snails.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn