AsemconnectVietnam - In the first three months of 2026, seafood exports reached over US$2.64 billion, an increase of 14.41% compared to the first three months of 2025.

According to the preliminary statistics figures from the Customs Department, seafood exports in March of 2026 increased by 31.16% compared to February of 2026 and by 4.97% compared to March of 2025, reaching nearly US$926.92 million. Overall, in the first three months of 2026, exports of this product group reached over US$2.64 billion, an increase of 14.41% compared to the first three months of 2025.
The largest export market for seafood in the first three months of 2026 was China, accounting for 26.74% of the total export value of this product group nationwide, reaching nearly US$707.05 million, a sharp increase of 52.26% compared to the first three months of 2025; in particular, March 2026 alone reached over US$217.29 million, a decrease of 11.14% compared to February 2026 but a strong increase of 40.19% compared to March 2025.
Ranked second in terms of export value was Japan, accounting for 13.82%, reaching nearly US$365.37 million, an increase of 1.8% compared to the same period in 2025; In March of 2026 alone, exports to this market reached over US$132.22 million, a sharp increase of 58.62% compared to February 2026 but a decrease of 3.16% compared to March 2025.
The exports to the US market in March of 2026 increased sharply by 65.57% compared to February of 2026 but decreased by 13.8% compared to March of 2025, reaching nearly US$133.96 million; overall, exports to this market in the first three months of 2026 decreased by 7.48% compared to the first three months of 2025, reaching nearly US$343.28 million, accounting for 12.98% of the total export value of this product group nationwide.
Seafood exports to the RCEP FTA market in the first three months of 2026 increased by 24.14% compared to the first three months of 2025, reaching over US$1.53 billion, accounting for 57.91% of the total export value; exports to the CPTTP FTA market increased by 7.21%, reaching nearly US$686.59 million, accounting for 25.96%. The exports to the EU market accounted for 9.29% of the total export value, reaching nearly US$245.66 million, an increase of 5.32%. The exports to the Southeast Asian market accounted for 6.97% of the total export value, reaching nearly US$184.2 million, an increase of 19.17%.
The exports to the South Korean market in the first three months of 2026 reached nearly US$182.78 million, an increase of 1.66% compared to the first three months of 2025, accounting for 6.91% of the total export value. In March of 2026 alone, exports reached over US$68.36 million, a sharp increase of 81.38% compared to February of 2026, but a decrease of 0.27% compared to March of 2025.
The increase in seafood exports in the first quarter of 2026 occurred amidst the ongoing recovery of the US, Japan, and South Korea, while the Chinese and Hong Kong markets continued to be the main driving force, simultaneously revealing the industry's dependence risks.
According to VASEP, after a period of positive growth in the first two months of the year, Vietnam's seafood exports in March 2026 showed signs of slowing down, increasing by only 4.9% compared to March 2025, reflecting the volatile global demand landscape. Although still maintaining positive growth, this rate is much lower than the approximately 20% increase in the first two months of the year, indicating a slowdown in the recovery momentum and heavy reliance on a few key markets.
The brightest spot in Vietnam's seafood export picture is the Chinese and Hong Kong market. In the first quarter, the exports to this market reached approximately US$764 million, an increase of nearly 45% compared to the same period last year. In March alone, exports exceeded US$250 million, a rise of over 50%. This was the highest growth rate among key export markets and a crucial factor in maintaining the industry's growth momentum, while exports to the US, Japan, and South Korea all declined. The strong growth from China in the first quarter was due to consumer demand during the Lunar New Year, positive purchasing power in the mid-to-high-end segment, and geographical advantages that allowed Vietnamese businesses to react quickly to short-term price surges.
CK
Source: VITIC