Growth in the first month of this year was driven mainly by Asian markets, particularly China, Japan and ASEAN, and by strong performance in key product groups such as pangasius and squid, octopus.
China remained Viet Nam’s largest seafood market in January, with export turnover reaching nearly 250 million USD, up 28.7% from the same period last year. The main driver was strong shrimp demand ahead of the Lunar New Year, when consumption of premium seafood products typically rises. Lobster, in particular, made a significant contribution, as many enterprises accelerated shipments to China to capitalise on festive demand.
Exports to Japan, ASEAN and the Republic of Korea also recorded solid growth. Shipments to Japan climbed 21.3% year-on-year to almost 146 million USD, supported by steady demand for processed shrimp, frozen pangasius fillets, and squid and octopus. Exports to ASEAN surged 32.2% to around 69 million USD, reflecting stronger intra-regional trade and rising consumption in markets such as Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore. Meanwhile, exports to the RoK rose 9.1% to more than 67 million USD, driven mainly by squid, octopus and pangasius.
In terms of product structure, shrimp continued to be Viet Nam’s leading seafood export item, generating 331 million USD, up 6.4%, and accounting for nearly 38% of total export value. Growth was mainly recorded in China and Japan. For the US market, some exporters proactively delivered shipments earlier in January to reduce risks ahead of expected announcements on anti-dumping duties, helping prevent a sharper decline in shrimp exports during the month.
