Vietnam overtakes Norway to join top 3 seafood suppliers to Singapore
Vietnam has broken into the top three seafood suppliers to Singapore for the first time, overtaking Norway in H1 2025 amid robust export growth. The milestone underscores Vietnam’s rising competitiveness in one of Southeast Asia’s most quality-driven seafood markets.
According to data from Singapore’s Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA), Vietnam exported SGD 57.2 million worth of seafood to Singapore between January and June 2025, a year-on-year increase of 10.8%, capturing 10.2% of the market share. It now trails only Malaysia and Indonesia in total seafood exports to the island nation.
Chilled and frozen fish fillets (HS 0304) led the portfolio, generating SGD 29 million, up 2.1% year-on-year and accounting for nearly 30% of Vietnam’s seafood exports to Singapore. Crustaceans followed with SGD 12.5 million (9.4% share), while mollusks both processed and unprocessed earned SGD 7.1 million (12.4% share).
Despite the growth, competition remains intense. “Singapore’s demand for fish fillets and frozen/chilled products remains steady, which is positive for Vietnam,” said Cao Xuan Thang, Trade Counsellor and head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore. “However, crustaceans and mollusks continue to face stiff competition from regional powerhouses like Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as major suppliers including China, Japan, and India.”
To sustain momentum, Vietnamese exporters are being urged to improve product quality, enhance packaging, and invest in cost-efficient production technologies. Stronger branding and market visibility are also seen as crucial for long-term growth.
Nguyen Hoai Nam, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), noted the continued importance of trade missions in helping companies access overseas markets. He emphasized that proactive government-to-government outreach has supported recent breakthroughs.
VASEP is currently pushing for improved trade incentives under upcoming free trade agreement (FTA) reviews including higher export quotas for shrimp under the Vietnam-Korea FTA and tuna under the EU-Vietnam FTA, both critical to coastal livelihoods.
At the same time, the industry is grappling with external headwinds. These include the U.S. Department of Commerce’s steep preliminary anti-dumping duties on frozen warmwater shrimp, the EU’s lingering IUU “yellow card” warning, and new VAT policies under Vietnam’s revised tax law. Industry leaders are calling for stronger domestic reforms and diplomatic engagement to help mitigate these pressures.
VFM
