Seafood exports in 10 months: fish takes over from shrimp, Asia from the US

Nov 9, 2026, Market watch

Vietnam's seafood exports reached USD 10.459 billion in the first 10 months of 2026, up 12.1% year on year. October alone reached USD 1.315 billion, up 13.5%. Growth is still rising, but its structure has changed hands: shrimp and the US market both slowed, while fish and Asian markets carried the increase.

In October, shrimp exports reached USD 474 million, down 4.9% year on year, with whiteleg shrimp down 8.3% to just under USD 307 million. Other fish, by contrast, rose 55% in the month to USD 309 million, alone contributing about 70% of the sector's additional export value. Pangasius rose 14.9%, approaching USD 2 billion over ten months with an 11% year-on-year increase; tuna rose 13.4%, and squid and octopus rose 14.8%.

By market, China and Hong Kong reached USD 2.62 billion over ten months, up 30.3%, contributing about 54% of the sector's additional export value. ASEAN reached USD 722 million, up 22.9%. The US market moved the other way: October fell 11.8% to just under USD 200 million, and the ten-month total reached USD 1.63 billion, down 1.2% year on year.

The USD 12 billion full-year milestone remains within reach: the final two months need a further USD 1.541 billion, averaging about USD 770 million a month, well below October's level. The final results of the POR20 anti-dumping review are due to be announced soon and will directly affect shrimp orders to the US. The change of growth drivers shows that diversifying products and markets is now a practical requirement for the sector, not just an option.

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