The US market declined mainly in the tuna group, due to the impact of MMPA regulations and difficulties in implementing Circular 74 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment related to the issuance of COA certification.

According to information from the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), in January this year, Viet Nam's seafood exports reached approximately 874 million USD, an increase of 13% compared to the same period in 2015.

This increase shows that businesses are still striving to maintain the pace of orders at the beginning of the year, even though global seafood trade continues to face pressure from technical barriers and tariff factors in some major markets.

Shrimp accounts for nearly 40% of the total export value.

In terms of product structure, shrimp continued to be the main export item with a turnover of 331 million USD, an increase of 6.4%, accounting for nearly 38% of total exports.

Pangasius fish was also a standout performer, reaching over $177 million, a sharp increase of 33.2%. Increased demand from the Chinese, ASEAN, and Japanese markets helped this product become the highest-growth group this month.

Exports of squid and octopus reached nearly $69 million, a 30.9% increase thanks to strong demand from the Japanese and South Korean markets. Conversely, tuna exports only reached approximately $57 million, a 14% decrease, directly impacted by MMPA and COA issues in the US.

The crab and other crustacean group saw a 10.6% decrease, to approximately $31 million, while shellfish exports fell 11.7%, to around $20 million, due to slow consumption in the EU.

Exports to the US decreased due to the impact of MMPA and COA.

Regionally, growth in the first month of the year was primarily driven by the Chinese, Japanese, and ASEAN markets.

Currently, China (including Hong Kong) is the largest market for Vietnamese seafood, with export value reaching nearly $250 million, an increase of 28.7% compared to the same period last year. The main driving force comes from the demand for shrimp imports to serve the Lunar New Year.

Conversely, exports to the US market recorded a 9.9% decrease in value compared to the same period last year, reaching just over $96 million. This decline was particularly concentrated in the tuna group.

According to VASEP, the main reason for the impact on seafood exports to the US market stems from the MMPA regulations. The implementation of Circular 74 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment regarding the issuance of Certificates of Admissibility (COA) is causing many problems, leading to delays in the verification process and significantly disrupting the export of tuna and other seafood to the US since the beginning of the year.

Furthermore, Viet Nam's seafood exports to ASEAN reached approximately US$69 million, a significant increase of 32.2% compared to the same period last year. This growth reflects the increasing trend of intra-ASEAN trade and high demand in markets such as Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore.

The Japanese market remained stable, with demand for processed shrimp, frozen pangasius fillets, and squid and octopus remaining strong. Accordingly, seafood exports from Viet Nam to this market in January reached nearly $146 million, an increase of 21.3% compared to the same period last year.

Exports to the EU market reached only nearly $72 million, a decrease of 6.3%, due to weak demand and inventory from the end of the previous year, especially in the mollusk and crab/shrimp group. Exports to the Middle East also decreased by 9.4%, to approximately $21 million, after a period of strong imports at the end of 2025.

Source: DTiNews