This is mainly due to an increase in demand from China, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

"China is a preferred market for live Vietnamese crab, which, along with consistently reliable figures from Japan, has helped boost export turnover significantly. The competitive advantage of Vietnamese crab lies in its quality, as it is free from antibiotics, which has helped build trust in the international market," a VASEP representative said.

VASEP forecasts crab exports could exceed $350 million that for the whole year, thanks to the continued global increase in appetite for the crustacean.

In addition to crab, Vietnam's seafood exports in the first two months of 2025 reached $1.42 billion, up over 18 per cent on-year. Shrimp continued to lead with $542 million, an increase of 30.8 per cent. Meanwhile, molluscs took in $39 million, up over 121 per cent, and squid and octopus saw $101 million, up 13.8 per cent.

However, basa fish decreased slightly by 0.8 per cent to $253 million due to rising raw material prices and stricter US tariffs. High inventories in the US also hindered the recovery momentum, forcing the industry to be cautious in expanding production.

VASEP believes that seafood exports are also facing challenges from directives covering illegal, unreported, and unregulated catches and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which require stricter source traceability. Failure to comply could lead to the risk of import bans on many items. This requires further close coordination among the government, businesses, and fishermen to build a sustainable supply chain, ensuring long-term growth.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, with additional refinements in product quality and a stable sources of raw material sources, Vietnam's seafood exports could reach $11 billion for the year.