Vietnam seafood exports hit USD 8.11 billion in Jan-Sept, heading for record USD 10 billion in 2025
Vietnam’s seafood exports rose 12.3% in the first nine months of 2025 to an estimated USD 8.11 billion, putting the country on track to reach a record USD 10 billion by year-end, according to government data.
The Import-Export Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade said the sector had maintained strong momentum thanks to higher global demand, but warned of mounting risks in 2026 as key markets tighten trade rules.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said the industry had shown “remarkable resilience” this year but faced “dark clouds on the horizon,” citing rising protectionism and stricter environmental standards.
A 20% countervailing duty in the United States has made Vietnamese shrimp and fish less competitive than products from Thailand, Indonesia and Ecuador. The industry also risks higher anti-dumping tariffs under the 19th administrative review (POR19) due early next year.
From Jan. 1, 2026, the United States will ban seafood imports from 12 Vietnamese fisheries that have yet to meet equivalency standards under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), a move that could cost Vietnam over USD 500 million in annual export value, VASEP said.
In Europe, the European Commission’s “yellow card” on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains unresolved. Exporters are also grappling with new EU rules on minimum skipjack tuna size and restrictions on raw material mixing, which industry officials say are adding to compliance costs.
To mitigate risks, Vietnamese firms are diversifying exports to Asia, the Middle East and South America. However, VASEP said such diversification would take time, and that the United States remains a core market. The group urged faster progress on removing the EU yellow card and addressing trade barriers in the U.S. to sustain growth next year.
At a meeting of the National Steering Committee on IUU Fishing last week, VASEP General Secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam outlined three priorities for the sector: digitalization, expansion of certified fishing ports and regulatory reform.
He said digital systems should replace manual oversight in fisheries management to improve traceability and compliance. Vietnam currently has tens of thousands of fishing vessels but only 51 ports meeting legal and technical standards for origin verification, leaving many compliant vessels unable to land at approved sites.
Nam also called for upgrading port infrastructure and revising outdated regulations that hinder exports. For example, ruoc bien (tiny shrimp) cannot yet be exported due to missing legal guidance, while new “minimum catch size” rules under Decree 37/2024 have disqualified certain tuna species from shipment.
VASEP said timely legal updates were essential to maintain export flows and safeguard competitiveness as international markets raise sustainability and traceability standards.
Vietnam’s seafood exports are expected to hit USD 10 billion in 2025, up from USD 9.2 billion last year, driven by shrimp, pangasius and tuna shipments. But the industry faces a tougher outlook in 2026 as new environmental and trade barriers take effect in major markets.
VFM
