AsemconnectVietnam - According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Taiwan is currently one of the largest seafood consumption markets in Asia with the highest per capita consumption in the world.

In the context of Taiwan's continued increase in import demand, Vietnamese seafood is recording positive growth and opening up many opportunities to expand market share, especially for shrimp and pangasius products.
According to VASEP's assessment, Taiwan is currently one of the largest seafood consumption markets in Asia, with Taiwan's per capita seafood consumption reaching 31.65 kg/person/year in 2023, 50% higher than the global average (21 kg).
The most popular products in this market are fish, shellfish, squid - octopus, shrimp and crab.
In high-end restaurants, seafood such as lobster, crab, and oysters are often considered luxury items. Recent consumption trends show that Taiwanese people are willing to pay more for high-quality imported seafood products, especially as the fine dining industry in Taiwan is growing, with 49 Michelin-starred restaurants using a lot of imported seafood ingredients.
Despite this, Taiwan is increasingly dependent on imports to meet domestic consumption needs.
In 2024, seafood imports reached 1.885 billion USD from 86 countries, with key products being frozen shrimp and prawns; fresh/chilled Atlantic salmon; frozen squid and cuttlefish; frozen scallops; frozen halibut.
Among suppliers, China, Japan, Norway, Vietnam and Indonesia accounted for nearly 50% of total imports. Vietnam holds the 4th position, accounting for about 9% of Taiwan's seafood import market share in 2024.
Opportunities, challenges and orientations for Vietnamese enterprises
Taiwan is one of the important import markets for Vietnamese seafood in Asia. In 2024, the country’s exports of seafood to Taiwan reached 168 million USD, accounting for nearly 1.7% of Vietnam's total seafood export turnover. The product structure was shrimp 44%, pangasius 13%, marine fish 28%, the rest were squid, octopus and crab.
In the first 8 months of 2025 alone, the country’s exports of seafood to Taiwan reached over 123 million USD, an increase of 18% over the same period of 2024. Of which, the exports of shrimp increased sharply by 37% (mainly whiteleg shrimp and tiger prawn); and the exports of pangasius increased by 31%. On the contrary, seafood showed signs of slowing down: squid - octopus decreased by 5%, and shellfish decreased by 45%.
These figures showed that shrimp and pangasius are product groups with clear competitive advantages in the Taiwanese market.
This is a great opportunity for Vietnamese seafood to boost exports, as Taiwan has a high demand for seafood, especially high-end and imported products. The market has a good payment level, suitable for the development of high-quality processed products, whiteleg shrimp, tiger prawns and marine fish. While Vietnam has established itself as one of the four largest suppliers, creating a foundation to expand market share.
However, to enter this market, Vietnamese enterprises must compete fiercely with China, Japan and Norway - countries with strengths in salmon, squid and marine fish. At the same time, quarantine regulations and quality certification from the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) are increasingly strict. The trend of reducing imports of product groups such as squid, octopus, and shellfish affects Vietnam's export structure.
In the above context, VASEP believes that it is necessary to promote key product groups such as: continuing to exploit the advantages of shrimp and pangasius, and at the same time developing more value-added processed products. Positioning the high-end segment: emphasizing the factors of freshness, quality, and clear traceability;
At the same time, we also need to promote trade promotion, including cooperating with restaurants and chefs in Taiwan to promote products; participating in international food fairs to increase brand presence; as well as ensuring food safety requirements, animal health certification, creating long-term prestige for Vietnamese products.
In general, with positive growth momentum in the first 8 months of 2025, Vietnam has many opportunities to expand its seafood market share in Taiwan, especially in the shrimp and pangasius segments. However, to exploit sustainably, businesses need to focus on improving quality, building brands and promoting promotion in the high-end culinary channel.
CK
Source: VITIC//haiquanonline.com.vn