soft-shell crab exporter

Lobster is on its way to becoming a billion-dollar commodity.

News 08:18 08/07/2026 Phuong Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.

In the first half of 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports faced numerous challenges, from price competition among leading shrimp producing and exporting countries to rising production costs and a sharp decline in the US market. Against this backdrop, lobster exports continued to be a bright spot, especially exports to the Chinese market.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), in the first five months of 2026, lobster exports to China reached over $506 million, an increase of 44.3% compared to the same period in 2025. Lobster accounted for more than 71% of the total shrimp export value to China in those five months.

The success of lobster exports to China in the first half of this year is largely based on the anticipated surge in growth in 2025.

In 2025, Vietnam's lobster exports to China achieved triple-digit growth, reaching a record high of $845 million. The Chinese market accounted for almost all of Vietnam's lobster export revenue to all markets ($858 million).

With this explosive growth, lobster has become the main driver helping Vietnam's shrimp exports to China and Hong Kong reach a record high of over $1.2 billion in 2025, a 55% increase compared to 2024. As a result, China continues to be the largest market for Vietnamese shrimp for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025).

With double-digit growth in the first five months of the year, China will continue to be the number one destination for Vietnamese lobster in 2025. Demand for seafood in China remains high, especially for fresh and premium seafood products, including lobster.

In China, lobster is consumed in restaurants, hotels, at banquets, or given as high-value gifts.

Currently, the main suppliers of lobster to China are Vietnam, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and others. Compared to other lobster exporting countries to China, Vietnam has a significant geographical advantage. Sharing a border with China allows for the faster and more flexible transportation of live lobsters from Vietnam to this market compared to other sources.

In particular, Vietnamese green lobsters, with their small to medium size and competitive price, can turn red during cooking, making them very suitable for the needs and tastes of Chinese consumers (who prefer red-colored food). This is also currently the main type of lobster exported to the Chinese market.

Lobster exports to China continue to grow at a high rate, playing a crucial role in maintaining double-digit growth in overall shrimp exports to this market. In the first five months of this year, shrimp exports to China and Hong Kong reached over $711 million, a 46% increase compared to the same period in 2015 and accounting for nearly 38% of the country's total shrimp export value.

According to Ms. Le Hang, Deputy General Secretary of VASEP, the demand for fresh seafood in the Chinese market is very high, especially for seafood such as lobster, clams, and abalone... Therefore, lobster exports to China in 2026 could reach 1 billion USD.

Despite facing fierce competition from other suppliers, Vietnam's lobster exports to China still have promising growth prospects in the coming period.

First of all, China's demand for lobster imports continues to trend upwards. In 2017, China's lobster import value was $1.2 billion, and by 2025 it is expected to reach nearly $3.9 billion. With this figure, China is the world's largest lobster import market and is leading the global lobster market.

A particularly noteworthy characteristic of the Chinese market is its preference for live lobsters over frozen or processed lobsters. This factor will continue to be a significant advantage for Vietnamese lobsters due to short shipping times, flexible supply of fresh products, and products that suit the tastes of the Chinese market.

Bạn đang đọc bài viết Lobster is on its way to becoming a billion-dollar commodity. tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP
lobster lobster exports china

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Vietnamese tuna bucks the import trend in Germany

 |  08:46 07/11/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.

VSS2026: Seafood exports top USD 10.4 billion in 10 months – how should seafood businesses prepare for 2027?

 |  08:26 05/11/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.

Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026: From market forecasts to answers for 2027–2029 growth

 |  17:17 31/10/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.

Vietnamese seafood affirms its position at the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo 2026

 |  12:42 29/10/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.

Vietnam’s tilapia exports to CPTPP grow strongly but remain small in scale

 |  08:09 28/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.

Five key questions facing the seafood industry to be discussed at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026

 |  14:58 22/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.

Vietnam’s shrimp exports face market volatility at year-end

 |  16:43 21/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.

Vietnam’s seafood industry in 2027–2029: Where will new growth opportunities come from?

 |  14:56 19/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.

Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the middle east recover, but growth remains uneven

 |  16:04 15/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.

China’s shrimp imports surge: major opportunities, but demand and product mix must be assessed carefully

 |  08:32 14/10/2026

(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC