HCMC – Vietnam's seafood exports exceeded US$4.4 billion in the first half of this year, up by nearly 7% against the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

In June, seafood exports were estimated at US$875 million, a 14% increase from June 2023. Last month marked the highest monthly export value since the beginning of the year. Tra fish exports rose by 22%, tuna by 40%, crab by 59%, and shrimp by 7%. Shrimp exports in the first six months of the year expanded 7% year-on-year to over US$1.6 billion. Lobster exports totaled over US$130 million, 57 times higher than the same period in 2023. Tra fish exports totaled US$922 million in the first six months, up by nearly 6%. Tuna exports grew by 25% to US$477 million. Since 2021, Vietnam's canned tuna exports have been increasing, with a 51% rise from US$169 million in 2021 to US$255 million in 2023. These products now reach over 65 markets, with the U.S., the EU, and Israel being the largest importers, showing respective increases of 88%, 35%, and 141%. Industry insiders predict a stable seafood export market for Vietnam in the third and fourth quarters, driven by festive season demand. VASEP forecasts 15% growth in seafood exports in the latter half of the year, aiming to exceed US$5.5 billion. The total seafood export value in 2024 is projected at US$10 billion.