HANOI: China has surpassed the United States to become the largest buyer of Vietnamese seafood, with imports reaching nearly US$1.4bil in the first half of 2026, up about 40% year-on-year, according to statistics of the Agriculture and Environment Ministry.
The recorded imports were nearly US$898mil in the period, down about 1%. Japan ranked third with nearly US$788mil, a 2% increase.
A representative from seafood exporter Nam Viet Corp said that the shift towards China has become more visible since the beginning of the year.
As shipping costs to distant markets remained high, China became a more attractive destination thanks to its geographical proximity, lower logistics costs and faster capital recovery.
Le Hang, deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep), said that the United States and European markets introduced more trade barriers, so many seafood exporters had proactively shifted to China.
Exports to the United States continued to face challenges, Hang said.
She pointed out the stricter requirements in the United States under Marine Mammal Protection Act have forced exporters to obtain additional Certificates of Admissibility, which creates complicated procedures, particularly for tuna products.
Shrimp exports to this market have also remained under pressure from high anti-dumping duties.
The US market was further affected by increased shipments ahead of new tariff measures, which pushed up inventories.
Vasep said seafood export growth during the period reflected not only recovering demand but also businesses’ ability to adjust markets and restructure products as importers have become more cautious while requirements on pricing, quality standards, certification and traceability have tightened. — Viet Nam News/ANN
