According to the US notice, in January 2026 Vietnam split its previous fishery code into four separate swimming crab fisheries based on target species and fishing gear, including Fishery IDs 13164, 13206, 13204, and 13205. After reviewing Vietnam’s submissions, supplementary information, and related data, US authorities determined that these four fisheries are comparable in effectiveness to US management programs. This is considered a positive development for Vietnam’s swimming crab industry, especially after the NMFS’s preliminary determination in August 2025 had placed the swimming crab fisheries of Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines among those not meeting MMPA requirements.
Alongside Vietnam, the swimming crab fisheries of Indonesia and Sri Lanka were also granted comparability findings. In contrast, the Philippines did not receive comparability recognition for its related swimming crab fisheries. As a result, swimming crabs and products derived from those Philippine fisheries will no longer be allowed to enter the United States starting June 11, 2026 — 30 days after the notice publication date.
This means that Vietnamese swimming crab exports to the United States will no longer require a Certificate of Admissibility (COA) and can continue to enter the market under normal procedures as before. However, businesses should note that if imported raw materials are used, they must not source materials from fisheries that are banned or not recognized as comparable in the exporting country. If materials are sourced from other fisheries, the corresponding COA from that country will still be required.
According to NOAA Fisheries, the comparability finding granted to Vietnam will remain valid until December 31, 2029. However, NOAA also noted that the finding may be reconsidered or revoked if Vietnam’s management program no longer meets the applicable requirements. NOAA recommended that Vietnam continue maintaining and strengthening efforts to minimize the risk of mortality and serious injury to marine mammals, including the development of observer programs, electronic monitoring systems, and conservation measures for species such as the Irrawaddy dolphin.
Recognition by the United States helps Vietnam’s swimming crab industry maintain access to an important export market while creating more room for stable exports in the coming years. Nevertheless, MMPA requirements also demonstrate that sustainable fishing practices, fisheries monitoring, and marine mammal protection will increasingly become critical conditions for Vietnam’s seafood sector to maintain its competitive position in the US market.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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
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