AsemconnectVietnam - Entering 2026, Vietnam's seafood industry faces a period of both high expectations and new pressures.

Following the positive recovery of 2025, production and export activities in the first quarter of 2026 demonstrate the remarkable adaptability of the Vietnamese seafood business community in the context of continued global trade fluctuations, increased international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in importing markets.
In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam's seafood exports reached US$2.64 billion, an increase of 14.4% compared to the same period of 2025. This included a positive recovery in many key product groups, but at the same time, the export structure is also undergoing a clear shift. Shrimp continued to be the largest product category with over US$1 billion, accounting for 40.4% of the total export value; pangasius exports reached nearly $514 million, an increase of 16.8%; squid, octopus, shellfish, crabs, and many niche product groups also recorded quite good growth. Notably, some segments such as lobster, tilapia, scallops, and oysters experienced very strong growth, showing the potential for expansion of high-value products and the ability to adapt quickly to market demand. Conversely, tuna continued to face difficulties, reflecting weaker purchasing power in some key markets and increasing pressure from regulations on exploitation, traceability, and compliance.
Opportunities for Vietnamese seafood exports in 2026
The market picture in the first quarter also showed very noteworthy movements. China and Hong Kong continued to be the biggest growth drivers, with export value reaching over $744 million, an increase of 49%, particularly prominent in fresh, high-end product groups such as lobster, live crab, and some marine fish products. Japan maintained its role as a stable market, albeit with modest growth; ASEAN and the CPTPP continue to offer significant opportunities thanks to tariff advantages and demand for flexible, reasonably priced products. Meanwhile, the US saw a 7.4% decline and the EU only experienced a slight increase, clearly reflecting the impact of policy factors, cautious consumer sentiment, and increasing competitive pressure.
2026 still presents opportunities for Vietnamese seafood, but these are conditional opportunities. Global demand for seafood generally remains, especially in markets with high import dependence such as the US, EU, Japan, and China. Opportunities also arise from the restructuring of global consumption, as buyers increasingly focus on processed, convenient products with high utility value and clear origins. Free trade agreements such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and UKVFTA continue to create opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to increase their competitive advantage if they effectively utilize rules of origin, tax preferences, and market requirements. Simultaneously, supply shortages in some regions, especially for whitefish, mollusks, and certain high-quality seafood products, are also creating more room for Vietnamese seafood to expand its market share.
However, increasing competitive pressure from major supplier countries such as Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Canada is also a challenge, particularly in product groups where Vietnam has a competitive advantage, such as shrimp, whitefish, and premium seafood. A second challenge is the growing number of technical, trade, and environmental barriers: anti-dumping duties on shrimp in the US, MMPA regulations, COA requirements, import traceability programs, the EU's new electronic fishing certification system, and the ongoing lifting of the IUU yellow card. Thirdly, there is pressure from the consumer market itself: buyers in the US, EU, and Japan are increasingly price-sensitive, but at the same time demand higher quality, convenience, environmental responsibility, and social responsibility.
CK
Source: VITIC/congthuong.vn