Seafood exports post double-digit growth in eight months

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam’s seafood exports in August 2025 were estimated at USD 950 million, bringing the total for the first eight months of the year to USD 7.03 billion, up 11.5% compared with the same period in 2024.

China, the US, and Japan remain Vietnam’s top three seafood buyers, accounting for 19.8%, 17.2%, and 15.1% of total export value respectively. Exports to China rose by 44.1% year-on-year, while shipments to the U.S. increased by 8.5% and to Japan by 9.7%. Among the 15 largest markets, exports to Brazil grew the most, up 63.1%, while Russia saw the sharpest decline at 2.6%.

Total seafood output in August was estimated at 916,400 tons, bringing cumulative output in the first eight months to 6.4 million tons, up 3% year-on-year. This included 2.6 million tons from capture fisheries (up 0.5%) and 3.8 million tons from aquaculture (up 4.8%).

For September and the remaining months of the year, Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Resources Surveillance, Duong Van Cuong, said the focus will be on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing by monitoring and guiding the implementation of the electronic traceability system, organizing inspection missions to resolve difficulties at the local level, and preparing to receive a European Commission inspection team.

Expanding markets and meeting international standards

Facing increasing challenges in traditional markets, Le Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, suggested seeking opportunities in potential markets such as the Middle East, Africa, and West Asia, while also building a stronger national seafood brand.

He emphasized the need for closer coordination between the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Resources Surveillance and his department, with clearly defined responsibilities, to strengthen Vietnam’s position in the global seafood market.

Meanwhile, To Viet Chau, Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, noted that the United States recently released the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) equivalence assessment. Of 135 countries and territories reviewed, 89 achieved full equivalence, 34 including Vietnam were partially recognized, and 12 did not meet equivalence standards.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment convened an urgent meeting, assigning tasks to relevant agencies. Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance Nguyen Quang Hung said Vietnam will learn from the 89 countries and territories already fully recognized by the US to meet MMPA requirements.

According to Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien, despite both domestic and external challenges, the seafood sector achieved encouraging results in the first eight months of 2025, with total output reaching 6.4 million tons. The sector is on track to achieve a growth rate of 4.25% and surpass USD 10 billion in annual export revenue.

Looking ahead, the industry still faces major challenges. Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien directed the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Resources Surveillance to urgently address difficulties, prepare a national conference on combating IUU fishing to be chaired by the Prime Minister, and take immediate action to meet MMPA requirements. He stressed the need to reduce capture fishing, boost aquaculture, lift the EU’s “yellow card” warning on IUU fishing, and comply with international standards to sustain growth.