In the first quarter of 2023, Vietnam's seafood exports to the Chinese market still decreased by 27% compared to the same period last year, reaching nearly 240 million USD. While exports in January and March experienced negative growth of 60% and 39% respectively, only exports in February showed positive growth of 24% .
The top 5 seafood products exported to China include pangasius, anchovies, white leg shrimp, black tiger shrimp, surimi and fishcake. Pangasius accounts for 55% of seafood exports to China, therefore, the decrease in pangasius exports to this market has largely affected general exports. Exports of white leg shrimp, fish cakes - surimi and many other products still fell deeply. However, dried anchovies are gaining great popularity in the Chinese market with an increase of 50% in the first quarter. Many other dried processed products such as yellow snapper and dried shrimp have strongly increased export value. In addition, black tiger shrimp is also recovering its export value to China with an increase of 46% over the same period.
March 2023: China's seafood imports increased by 58%
With more than 1 million tons of seafood imported in the first quarter of 2023, worthed more than 4.5 billion USD, China's import increased by 17% in volume and by 13% in value over the same period in 2022.
Only in the first month of 2023 the year, China's seafood imports decreased by 27% in volume and 19% in value compared to January 2022 because of the New Year holidays and the Lunar New Year. From February, imports started to increase sharply by 32% and 20% respectively.
March 2023 was the most breakthrough month of China's seafood imports with an increase of 58% in volume and 51% in value. This month alone, China imported 453,000 tons of seafood, worth over 1.8 billion USD.
Frozen seafood products imported into China accounted for 89% in volume and 67% in value, while fresh/raw/chilled products accounted for 7% and 28% respectively. Processed products accounted for only 2%.
China increased sharply seafood imports for the processing and export segment, accounting for 21% in volume and 12% in value. The volume of seafood imports for this segment increased by 70% over the same period last year.
China's seafood imports for domestic consumption accounted for 65% in volume and 82% in value, an increase of 16% and 13% respectively.
In terms of volume , China imports the most pollock with nearly 200,000 tons, followed by squid with nearly 94 thousand tons. For pangasius, in the first 3 months of 2023, China imported 45,000 tons with an average price of 2.18 USD/kg, down 7% compared to the same period in 2022.
Thus, seafood imports for domestic consumption have not recovered strongly, the average import price has decreased. Moreover, competitive pressure from Ecuador, India, and Indonesia are negatively affecting Vietnam's seafood exports to China.
However, Vietnamese seafood enterprises still expect that exports to China will soon recover because it is predicted that China's seafood consumption will explode in 2023. 1.4 billion people were “liberated” from COVID lockdowns and eager to return to eating out. The Chinese have stockpiled between $1.5 trillion and $2 trillion in "excess household savings" during the lockdown, so seafood spending is expected to increase in the next time.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
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(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.
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