Opportunity to increase seafood exports
On August 24, the General Administration of Customs of China issued a ban with immediate effect on all seafood products imported from Japan, in order to prevent risks from "Japan discharges nuclear-contaminated wastewater" into the Pacific Ocean. Currently, China is Japan's largest seafood consumption market.
Since July, China has banned the import of food, especially seafood, from 10/47 provinces of Japan, including Fukushima, and strictly inspected documents related to food imported from the remaining prefectures. China has also publicly criticized the plan to release wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, Japan.
According to data from the General Administration of Customs of China, in the first 7 months of the year, China spent 320 million USD to import seafood from Japan, up 9% over the same period last year. Although Vietnam's market share in China is larger than Japan's (4.1% vs. 3.6%), it has declined from 10% last year, whereas Japan's share has risen from 1.5% to 3.6% this year.
The commodity that China imports the most from Japan is bivalve molluscs (eg clams, oysters) with an important turnover of 152 million USD, occupying about 50% of the total import turnover
China's ban on seafood imports has raised the question of whether Vietnam's seafood exports will benefit?
Mr. Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that China's ban on Japanese seafood imports would have psychological effects. There is no scientific basis to confirm that wastewater release from Japan's nuclear power plants, even though it has been treated, is still harmful to human health.
"However, Chinese people's psychology may be hesitant to consume even domestically caught seafood in some waters near Japan. Therefore, China's demand for imported seafood will decrease from countries including Vietnam," said Mr. Hoe.
Not only in China, Mr. Hoe said that Korean people are also afraid to consume domestically caught seafood because some areas are close to the waste discharge area of Japan.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Sac, Chairwomen of VASEP, said this move from Japan makes customers from China and Korea reduce imports from this country. This means they will have to increase imports from other sources, which is obviously a market principle. China is a densely populated country, so when they have a shortage of seafood supply from a certain country, they are forced to switch to other sources such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia ... ".
However, not all seafood products of Vietnam will benefit and shrimp products are an example. According to Mr. Ho Quoc Luc, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sao Ta Food Joint Stock Company (Code: FMC), Japan does not export shrimp to China. Japan itself also has to import shrimp, especially highly processed, high value-added shrimp products from Vietnam and Thailand.
According to data from VASEP, in the first 7 months of this year, Vietnam's seafood export turnover reached 2 billion USD, down 15% over the same period last year. In which, China ranked 4th in seafood import markets of Vietnam with a turnover of 183 million USD, down 7% over the same period last year.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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