AsemconnectVietnam - According to the data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (Vasep), Vietnam's seafood exports reached US$1.02 billion in May of 2026, an increase of 0.6% compared to April of 2026, bringing the total seafood exports of Vietnam in the first five months of 2026 to US$4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period last year.

Shrimp was the largest export item in the first five months of 2026
In the first five months of 2026, shrimp continued to hold the position of the largest export item, reaching US$1.9 billion, an increase of 11.5% compared to the same period in 2025 and accounting for approximately 40.4% of the country's total seafood export value, mainly due to the recovery of exports to some Asian markets.
Meanwhile, Vietnam's pangasius exports in the first five months of this year reached US$905 million, an increase of 12.6% compared to the same period in 2025.
In the first five months of 2026, Vietnam's tuna exports decreased by 6%, reaching US$372 million, mainly due to a shortage of domestic raw materials and the impact of traceability requirements. Also in the first five months of this year, Vietnam's squid and octopus exports reached US$304 million, an increase of 18% compared to the same period last year, while exports of crab, lobster and other crustacean products reached US$160 million, an increase of 19%; exports of shellfish reached US$122 million, an increase of 22.8% compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam's main seafood export markets in the first five months of 2026
China and Hong Kong were Vietnam's largest seafood export markets in the first five months of 2026, with export turnover reaching US$1.2 billion, a 40.5% increase compared to the same period last year, mainly due to increased demand for shrimp, pangasius, crab, mollusks, and some high-value seafood.
Meanwhile, seafood exports to the US market decreased by 10%, reaching US$689 million; to the EU decreased by 2.2%, reaching US$435.6 million.
The country’s seafood exports to the Japanese market increased slightly by 0.4%, to South Korea by 4%, and to the ASEAN market by 16.8%.
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Source: VITIC/vasep.com.vn