AsemconnectVietnam - VITIC’s calculation based on Vietnam Customs data showed that the country's seafood export turnover reached $1.14 billion in August of 2026, a 3.71% increase compared to July.

For the first eight months of 2026, total seafood export value hit $7.99 billion, marking an 11.8% growth year-on-year. This growth brought the sector closer to its full-year target of $12 billion. Consumer trends across regions are showing significant divergence, with Asia continuing to serve as the primary growth driver.
Top four markets accounted for over 60% of the sector's total export turnover
Mainland China continued to solidify its position as Vietnam's largest seafood import market. In August of 2026, the exports to this market reached $250.65 million, despite a slight 2.82% dip from July. In the first eight months of the year, the country’s export turnover totaled $1.89 billion, a robust 33.87% increase year-on-year, accounting for 23.74% of the sector's total exports. The United States ranked second, with export value reaching $181.89 million in August of 2026, a slight decrease of 0.09% compared to July. The country’s seafood exports to the US for the first eight months of 2026 totaled $1.25 billion, up by 1.48% year-on-year and accounting for a 15.68% share.
Japan recorded a surge in growth during the month; specifically, the export value reached $174.3 million in August of 2026, a 23.32% increase over July. The eight-month total reached $1.12 billion, up by 2.8% compared to the same period of 2025, representing 13.95% of the total value.
The exports to South Korea were valued at $81.25 million in August of 2026, up by 12.55% from the previous month. The total export value for the eight-month period reached $564.95 million, a 4.68% increase year-on-year, accounting for a 7.06% share.
Momentum from Asia offsets barriers in the US market
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the industry's overall growth momentum currently relies heavily on demand from China and other Asian markets. Strong growth in demand for shrimp, pangasius, and crabs in China has significantly offset the decline in orders from the US and Europe.
The US market is currently facing various technical variables. High inventory levels in the US, combined with barriers arising from Section 301 tariffs and anti-dumping duties, have led US importers to scale back orders. Nevertheless, by diversifying export markets to include the CPTPP and ASEAN blocs, Vietnamese seafood enterprises have maintained an overall growth rate of 11.8% over the first eight months of the year.
Source: VITIC