AsemconnectVietnam - Viet Nam was the third largest seafood exporter in the world after China and Norway by occupying 7 percent of the global market share, according to the Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

In July, Viet Nam earned US$915.9 million from exporting seafood, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.8 percent. In the first seven months, seafood exports rose by 8 percent from the previous year to US$5.32 billion.
In January-July period, aquatic shipment to the U.S. stood at US$963.7 million, up 12.8 percent against the same period last year. Seafood exports also increased to China (up 11.6 percent), South Korea (3.4 percent), Australia (9.1 percent), Canada (34.6 percent), Belgium (14.2 percent), and Israel (42.3 percent).
Seafood xports to Russia soared by 105 percent compared to the same period last year. However, exports to some markets, including Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Malaysia dropped.
The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) forecasts that the final months of the year will continue to present challenges for seafood exports. While the global economy shows signs of improvement, the pace of growth remains slow. High food prices, energy costs, and transportation expenses have led to a cooling of global inflation, but price pressures persist, falling short of desired targets and posing a risk of resurgence.
Aquaculture is considered one of the key industries of the country, contributing significant value to the Vietnamese economy, as well as global logistics services.
Vietnam tuna exports reached US$558 million in Jan-Jul 2024
In July 2024, Vietnam's tuna exports continued to maintain growth momentum over the same period, increasing by 14% to nearly 87 million USD. However, the export growth rate is slowing down a lot compared to previous months. Cumulatively, in the first 7 months of the year, tuna export turnover reached 558 million USD, an increase of 22%.
Exports to many main markets decreased in July, such as the EU, Israel, Canada, Mexico, etc.
In the EU market, tuna exports decreased by 14% in July, reaching 16 million USD, although exports to Italy still maintain growth momentum, the growth rate decreased sharply from three digits to 18% in July. Meanwhile, tuna exports to the Netherlands and Germany simultaneously decreased by 46% and 19%.
Along with the EU, tuna exports to Israel, Vietnam's second-largest single tuna import market, after many months of good growth, decreased by 31% this July. Israel-Iran tensions are affecting export activities to this market.
South Korea boosts cephalopod imports from Vietnam
South Korea remains the largest consumer of Vietnam's cephalopod, accounting for over 40% of the total export value. In the first six months of this year, cephalopod exports to this market reached 114 million USD, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. In the second quarter of 2024, cephalopod exports to South Korea reached 58 million USD, up 13% year-on-year.
South Korea has continued to be a major market for Vietnam's cephalopod exports, with steady growth observed in the first half of 2024. The second quarter saw particularly strong performance, with May and June recording double-digit increases.
The sustained demand from South Korea, coupled with reduced imports from other sources like Japan and China due to factors such as Japan's nuclear wastewater discharge and China's import ban on Japanese seafood, has benefited Vietnam's exporters.
Vietnam's octopus exports have been particularly strong, accounting for 71.9% of the total value to South Korea in the first half of the year. The dried/salted/live/fresh/frozen octopus segment saw a notable 18% increase, while the processed octopus group experienced a 15% decline.
Binh Dinh: Slight increase in capture production
According to the Binh Dinh Statistics Office, the total fishery production in July 2024 was estimated at 26,226.7 tons, a 2.2% increase (574 tons) compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, for the first seven months of 2024, the total fishery production was estimated at 172,723.1 tons, a 2.9% increase (4,786.4 tons) year-on-year.
In July, weather conditions and fishing grounds were favorable; most offshore and inshore fishing vessels achieved a fairly good catch. The province currently has 4,862 fishing vessels operating at sea, including 3,394 operating in offshore areas.
In key fishing grounds, offshore fishing fleets operated effectively in fisheries such as tuna longlining, purse seining, gillnetting, and squid jigging (harvesting species such as tuna, mackerel, skipjack tuna, squid, black pomfret, croaker, and cuttlefish).
Vietfish 2024
The "Cooking Show - Tasting delicious seafood" area at Vietfish 2024 organized by VASEP has always been a favorite highlight for visitors, especially domestic consumers. This area is not only a place to showcase a variety of flavors and high-quality Vietnamese products that are renowned in the global market but also a venue where consumers can experience captivating and visually appealing culinary performances by professional chefs.
For a country with a rich culinary heritage like Vietnam, the creativity in combining familiar ingredients such as soy products, tropical spices, and vegetables is always emphasized by chefs to enhance the flavors of seafood dishes.
At Vietfish 2024, the organizers have dedicated more space to the "Cooking Show" area. Here, professional chefs have directly prepared thousands of delicious seafood dishes, meeting export standards, and have even featured a demonstration of filleting a 40-kilogram ocean tuna.
T.Huong
Source: Vitic/Vasep