AsemconnectVietnam - Amidst the gradual recovery of global trade, the resurgence of food consumption demand in many major markets, and the benefits of free trade agreements (FTAs), Vietnam's seafood industry is facing a great opportunity to strive for an 8-10% growth target, bringing export turnover to over US$12 billion in 2026.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), in the first four months of 2026, seafood exports were estimated to reach approximately US$3.7 billion, an increase of nearly 15% compared to the same period last year, creating a positive foundation for the full-year target.
Clear signs of recovery from export markets
From the beginning of 2026, many key seafood product groups such as shrimp, pangasius, squid, octopus, crab, and mollusks have recorded positive growth in key markets such as the United States, the EU, China, Japan, and South Korea.
In 2025, seafood exports reached approximately US$11.32 billion, an increase of 12.7% compared to the previous year. So the industry aims to reach approximately US$12 billion in 2026.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the total export value of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products in 2026 is expected to reach US$73-74 billion, with seafood continuing to be one of the key sectors contributing significantly to national export growth.
Experts believe that the growth potential of Vietnam's seafood industry remains very large thanks to the advantages from new generation FTAs such as EVFTA, CPTPP, UKVFTA, and RCEP. These agreements are helping Vietnamese seafood expand its access to high-consumption markets with preferential tariff rates.
In its 2026 operational report, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment identified production restructuring, growth model innovation, digital transformation, and green development as key drivers to boost agricultural, forestry, and fisheries exports.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has issued an action plan to implement Government Resolutions 01 and 02, emphasizing the need to shift strongly from volume-based growth to enhancing added value, quality, and sustainable development.
In addition, the demand for deeply processed seafood in many markets is increasing, especially for high-value-added products, green products, environmentally friendly products, and products with transparent traceability. This is considered an advantage for Vietnamese businesses in the context of the industry's accelerated investment in processing technology, automation, and digital transformation.
According to VASEP, many seafood businesses have increased investment in deep-processed products, ready-to-eat products, collagen, fish oil, and functional foods from by-products to enhance export value and reduce dependence on raw material exports.
Removing "bottlenecks" to create breakthroughs
Despite great opportunities, the seafood industry is still facing many challenges such as high production costs, raw material shortages, labor shortages, diseases, and increasing pressure from international technical barriers.
In particular, combating IUU fishing continues to be a key requirement for seafood exports to the EU. According to VASEP, perfecting the traceability system, digitizing fisheries data, and removing obstacles in certification are urgent requirements.
In its presentation at the May 8th Conference, VASEP recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment promptly amend Circulars No. 81/2025 and No. 74/2025 to address shortcomings related to export certification procedures to the EU and the US, while simplifying documentation, digitizing processes, and standardizing implementation methods across localities.
The association also proposed reviewing regulations on fishing zoning to better suit fishing practices; continuing investment in fishing port infrastructure, fishing vessel monitoring systems, electronic logbooks, and databases on fishing origin to meet international requirements for transparency and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing.
Another notable issue is the labor shortage in the seafood processing industry. According to VASEP, many businesses are currently experiencing a severe labor shortage, directly impacting factory capacity and delivery schedules. The association recommended policies to stabilize the workforce for the seafood processing industry in key localities.
Experts believe that to achieve the export target of over $12 billion, the fisheries sector must not only rely on increasing production but also strongly shift towards a green and sustainable growth model.
A report from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment shows that in the period 2026–2030, Vietnam's agricultural sector aims for export growth of 8–12% per year in a green, modern direction that adapts to global fluctuations.
In particular, the fisheries sector is identified as having the potential to create high added value thanks to processing technology, product innovation, and market expansion capabilities.
At the industry conference, VASEP leaders affirmed that the fisheries business community is committed to continuing technological innovation, improving compliance capacity, developing value-added products, and working alongside management agencies in building a transparent, responsible, and sustainable fisheries sector.
If institutional bottlenecks, compliance costs, fisheries infrastructure, and raw material sources are addressed simultaneously, the target of 8–10% growth and export turnover exceeding US$12 billion in 2026 is considered entirely feasible, creating further impetus for Vietnam's agricultural growth and exports in the new phase.
CK
Source: VITIC/baochinhphu.vn