Vietnam's seafood exports reached $4.65 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 10.6% from the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Despite the strong overall performance, export prospects vary significantly across product categories in the US market. While crab exporters are benefiting from new opportunities, shrimp and tuna producers continue to face trade barriers and increasingly stringent compliance requirements.
A major positive development came in May when the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) officially recognized the equivalency of Vietnam's crab fishery management system. The decision allows Vietnamese crab and crab-derived products to continue entering the US market, providing exporters with greater certainty and growth opportunities.
Industry experts said the ruling creates favorable conditions for Vietnamese companies to secure contracts for the third quarter of 2026 and strengthen communication with US partners regarding the legality of raw materials, fishing codes and traceability documentation.
According to Nguyen Hoai Nam, Secretary General of VASEP, China has emerged as the primary growth driver for Vietnam's seafood industry as demand recovery in the United States and the European Union remains relatively slow.
He noted that Vietnam's seafood processing sector ranks among the world's most advanced, particularly in value-added products, giving the country a significant competitive advantage over major exporters such as Ecuador and India.
