Thanks to these favorable conditions, Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU continued to show positive performance in August 2025. In addition, the EU remains one of Vietnam’s most important export destinations, given its large consumer base and high purchasing power, especially for premium and sustainably certified seafood products.

However, it is important to note that the EU also maintains some of the strictest standards in the world regarding food quality, safety, traceability, and environmental sustainability. Compliance with these requirements — ranging from hazard analysis and control systems to responsible fishing regulations — is mandatory for any exporter wishing to maintain access to the EU market. While such technical barriers have helped improve product quality and production systems in Vietnam, they remain a challenge for many seafood processing and exporting enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized firms with limited resource capacity.

According to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, the export value of Vietnamese seafood shipped to the EU in August 2025 reached USD121.2 million, an increase of 4.1% compared to July 2025 and a notable 19.7% rise versus August 2024. This reflects a steady upward trend in both demand and export flows over the last several months.

For the first eight months of 2025, Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU totaled USD797.9 million, rising 11.4% over the same period in 2024. With this result, the EU accounted for 11.1% of Vietnam’s total seafood export value during the period, maintaining its role as one of the top strategic export markets for Vietnam’s seafood sector.

The Netherlands remained the largest EU market for Vietnamese seafood in August 2025. Export earnings from shipments to the Netherlands reached USD24.9 million, up 26.5% from July 2025. For the eight-month period, exports reached USD144.7 million, a 6.2% increase year-on-year, equivalent to 18.1% of all seafood exports to the EU. The Netherlands serves as a major logistics and distribution hub for seafood entering the EU, enabling broader access to other European markets.

Germany ranked second, with imports of Vietnamese seafood valued at USD20.2 million in August 2025, a slight decline of 2.2% from July. However, accumulatively from January to August 2025, exports to Germany reached USD141.3 million, up 8.1% year-on-year and representing 17.7% of Vietnam’s total seafood exports to the EU. Germany remains a high-demand market for processed and ready-to-eat seafood products.

Belgium placed third, with import turnover amounting to USD15.3 million in August 2025, an increase of 11.2% month-on-month. Exports to Belgium totaled USD110.3 million in the first eight months, up 16.9% year-on-year, accounting for 13.8% of exports to the EU.

Italy followed with USD9.5 million in August 2025, decreasing 1.3% from July. However, for the eight-month period, exports to Italy reached USD72.4 million, up 8.6% over the same period of 2024 and accounting for 9%.

Spain ranked fifth with import value of USD7.8 million in August 2025, a slight drop of 1.3% month-on-month. Total exports to Spain during January–August were USD51.9 million, an increase of 6% year-on-year, accounting for 6.5% of total seafood exports to the EU.

Alongside these leading import markets, several EU member states recorded exceptionally high growth in Vietnamese seafood imports during the first eight months of 2025:

·         Lithuania: +40.7%

·         Sweden: +48.7%

·         Egypt: +46.7%

Meanwhile, exports to some markets declined:

·         Poland: -16.7%

·         Denmark: -7.3%

·         Bulgaria: -39.1%

·         Croatia: -46.3%

·         Czech Republic: -37.4%

This divergence reflects different demand patterns, distribution structures, and consumer purchasing trends across various EU countries.

This product category is Vietnam’s top seafood export to the EU. In the first eight months of 2025, export turnover of frozen shrimp reached USD194.7 million, rising 10% year-on-year and accounting for 24.4% of total seafood exports. In August 2025 alone, export value hit USD35 million, up 21% from July.
Germany was the largest EU market for frozen shrimp in August (USD9.3 million, 26%), followed by the Netherlands (USD7.3 million, 21%) and Belgium (USD7.2 million, 20%).

Ranked second, processed shrimp exports amounted to USD124.5 million in the first eight months, up 31% year-on-year and making up 15.6% of total seafood exports. August 2025 exports reached USD19.7 million, slightly lower than USD20.8 million in July.
The Netherlands led with 24%, Germany accounted for 21%, and Belgium 15%.

This category was Vietnam’s third largest seafood export to the EU, achieving USD114 million in the first eight months of 2025, up 16% from the same period last year, accounting for 15% of total seafood export turnover. Fillet products form the main component of this group and align well with EU demand for convenient, ready-to-cook fish products.
Export value in August reached USD15.4 million, up 15.3% month-on-month, with the Netherlands, Spain, and Germany being the top three importers.

The EVFTA has provided strong momentum for Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU, contributing to robust growth in both value and product diversity. The EU continues to be a highly promising market for Vietnamese seafood, especially high-quality, certified, and sustainably produced items. However, businesses must persist in improving supply chain traceability, environmental compliance, and processing technologies to maintain export growth and market share under increasingly strict European standards.

T. Huong
Source: VITIC