Vietnam's seafood exports reached USD 9.1 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11.4% on the same period last year. VASEP expects the full year to land at around USD 12 billion, after a record USD 11.3 billion in 2025.
The headline figure hides a shift in where the product is going. Asia now accounts for most of the growth, and the mix of species is widening. For importers in China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, that changes how sourcing from Vietnam should be planned.
China and Hong Kong lead the growth
China and Hong Kong bought about USD 2.3 billion of Vietnamese seafood in the first nine months of 2026. That is roughly a quarter of all exports and around 62% of this year's growth. Lobster, shrimp, and squid and octopus are the main lines.
From 1 June 2026, GACC Decree 280 replaced Decree 248 for the registration of overseas food plants. Cold stores holding aquatic products are now also covered. Buyers should check that their suppliers' registrations are current under the new decree.
Japan stays steady
Japan took USD 1.69 billion of Vietnamese seafood in 2025, and shrimp accounted for USD 561.7 million. In the first four months of 2026, Japan was Vietnam's second-largest seafood market, with a 13.8% share. Shrimp exports to Japan grew 6.4% in the first nine months of 2026.
Japanese demand is concentrated in processed and ready-to-cook products: nobashi and tempura shrimp, breaded items and portioned fish. Inspection orders on residues apply to every lot of Vietnamese shrimp, so pre-shipment testing is part of normal practice.
Korea buys cephalopods
South Korea bought USD 652 million of Vietnamese seafood in the first nine months of 2026, up 6.1%. It is the largest market for Vietnamese squid and octopus, with 37% of the category in the first four months of the year.
Shrimp is harder. The 15,000-tonne VKFTA quota and its auction costs keep Vietnamese shrimp exports to Korea at around USD 334 million a year.
The numbers at a glance
- Total seafood exports, 9M/2026: USD 9.1 billion, +11.4%
- Shrimp, 9M/2026: USD 3.75 billion, +11%
- Pangasius, 9M/2026: USD 1.74 billion, +10.7%
- China and Hong Kong, 9M/2026: about USD 2.3 billion
- South Korea, 9M/2026: USD 652 million, +6.1%
- Japan, 2025: USD 1.69 billion, of which shrimp USD 561.7 million
What this means for buyers
Three practical points follow from these figures.
First, competition for raw material is rising. With China buying more shrimp, lobster and cephalopods, prices for popular sizes can move quickly. Buyers who agree specifications and volumes early in the season are better placed.
Second, compliance is now a sourcing criterion. GACC registration in China, MFDS registration in Korea and inspection orders in Japan all start with the plant. A supplier's registrations should be checked as carefully as its price.
Third, a wider range under one supplier saves work. Buyers who source shrimp, cephalopods and fish from the same exporter deal with one set of documents, one quality contact and consolidated containers.
About TBESFOOD
TBESFOOD COMPANY LIMITED, a member of TBES Group, has exported seafood from Vietnam since 2016 and ships to 30 countries. Our range includes vannamei and black tiger shrimp, slipper lobster, scampi, squid, cuttlefish, baby octopus, barramundi, pomfret, mackerel, clam and value-added seafood. Contact our export team at export@tbesfood.com.
Sources
- Seafood exports 9M/2026, by product and market: Báo Thanh tra, citing VASEP, 14 October 2026 https://thanhtra.com.vn/
- Full-year 2025 exports: SeafoodSource, citing VASEP https://www.seafoodsource.com/news/supply-trade/vietnam-s-2025-seafood-exports-hit-record-high
- Exports to Japan, 2025: Institute for Agricultural Strategy, Policy and Environment, citing Vietnam Customs https://agro.gov.vn/
- Japan market share, 4M/2026: VnEconomy, citing VASEP https://vneconomy.vn/
- Squid and octopus to Korea: CafeF, citing VASEP https://cafef.vn/
- VKFTA shrimp quota: VASEP letter 237/CV-VASEP, December 2025 https://vasep.com.vn/
- GACC Decree 280: Singapore Food Agency trade circular https://www.sfa.gov.sg/
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TBESFOOD COMPANY LIMITED
A member of TBES Group
Head Office: 2nd Floor, 81 Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
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TBESFOOD COMPANY LIMITED, a member of TBES Group