EU market accounts for 10.6% of total export turnover
In the first 9 months of 2025, Vietnam's seafood exports reached about 8 billion USD, with products present in more than 160 countries and territories. Of which, EU market accounted for 10.6% of total export turnover.
According to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), EU market's seafood import demand is estimated at more than 30 billion EUR per year, second only to China in the world. However, Vietnamese goods still account for a small proportion compared to major partners such as Norway, Ecuador, and Canada.
Since EVFTA took effect in August 2020, seafood exports to EU-27 reached 958.7 million USD and are expected to increase to nearly 1.2 billion USD in 2025. Although there has not been a breakthrough in market share, EVFTA plays an important role in maintaining the stable growth momentum of Vietnam - EU trade in context of global economic fluctuations. While US imposes tariffs on many imported goods, EU has become a safe destination with low policy risks, attracting Vietnamese, Indian and Indonesian businesses to shift orders to this region.
Currently, the 5 largest seafood import markets of Vietnam in the EU include Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain and Italy, accounting for 68% of total export turnover. Vietnam has exported seafood to 26 countries in the EU-27 bloc, with room to expand to Southern European markets and niche markets still very large.
Among groups of products exported to the EU, pangasius is assessed to have great growth potential, with export value to EU only accounting for 8.4% of Vietnam's total pangasius turnover. This product has advantage of a complete production chain, ensuring food safety and traceability.
Shrimp is also a promising item, as Vietnam is the third largest supplier to Europe, with more than 50% of turnover being value-added products. Notably, speed of conversion to high-tech farming models helps increase productivity, reduce costs and limit environmental impact.
Third potential product group is tuna, with Vietnam currently ranking seventh in the world in exporting canned tuna to the EU. However, this industry has been affected by the 8-year IUU 'yellow card', causing businesses to face inspection costs and extended customs clearance times.
According to Mr. Le Hoang Lam - Director of Center for Quality, Processing and Market Development of Region 3 (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), EU standards are not only recognition but also mandatory requirements for food exports to the EU market. Even non-EU countries such as the UK, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Israel, Iran and some Middle Eastern countries also require products and facilities to comply with EU standards before being imported.
Therefore, EU standards become a guideline in controlling food safety, tracing origin and managing agricultural, forestry and fishery production and processing facilities in Vietnam. The business community needs to master export regulations, especially requirements on food safety, traceability and quality management, and effectively implement them in production and processing. This is a prerequisite for Vietnamese goods to enter the EU and expand to other markets.
Vietnam has more than 600 enterprises recognized by the EU
From only 18 enterprises recognized by the EU in 1999, to date, Vietnam has more than 600 seafood processing and exporting enterprises recognized by the EU, making Vietnam the leader in the Asia-Pacific region in terms of the number of recognized enterprises and contributing to expanding the market and enhancing the reputation of Vietnamese products in the international market.
Giving notes to export enterprises, Mr. Le Hoang Lam said that each shipment exported to EU market must be accompanied by a certificate according to a standard form, providing information about the shipment and being confirmed by the Vietnamese certificate-issuing agency with important contents: Origin, operating conditions of the facility, control by state management agencies, supervised production chain, and results of food safety and disease testing. Enterprises need to clearly understand this requirement to properly implement production, processing and quality control processes.
EU legal system on fisheries is very complicated, there is no Vietnamese version, so businesses should seek out the certification authority for detailed guidance to avoid risks in the production and export process. The focus is not on "whether or not" EU regulations, but on mastering the regulations directly related to the business, knowing how to implement and ensure certification in practice.
EU provides detailed regulations on facility structure, ceilings, water control systems, fish and fishing vessel handling, worker hygiene, and quality management to ensure food safety from production to export. At the same time, the EU also provides maximum allowable limits (MRLs) for each food group. Businesses must clearly identify the type of exported product (aquatic or plant) and the specific group to establish an appropriate control system.
“Mastering the EU legal system and standards not only helps Vietnamese enterprises export smoothly to the EU, but also expands opportunities to enter markets that recognize European standards globally,” said Mr. Le Hoang Lam.
On August 29, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 150/CD-TTg, emphasizing the need to strengthen traceability, ensure the quality and reputation of exported agricultural, forestry and fishery products. Official Dispatch requires the application of strict standards and management processes, and prioritize the establishment of production, processing and export chains according to EU standards, in order to improve quality, food safety and competitiveness.
According to Ms. To Thi Tuong Lan - Deputy Secretary General of VASEP, in the context of the EU market increasingly emphasizing quality, sustainability and transparency, the Vietnamese seafood industry needs to implement a strategy based on four main pillars. First, sustainable development, including efficient use of resources, emission reduction and biodiversity conservation.
Second, improve quality and develop high-end products, from improving farming chains, monitoring antibiotic residues, to value-added processing, exploiting typical products such as mangrove shrimp or utilizing waste products.
Third, diversify markets and increase adaptability, expand to Latin America and Asia, reduce dependence on a few key markets.
Fourth, make production and financial chains transparent, publicize production, environmental and financial data to enhance reputation and deeply integrate into the global supply chain. This strategy not only helps businesses maintain EU market share but also creates a solid foundation for expanding international exports.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn