Part 2: Viet Nam’s Seafood Exports – China Becomes The Largest Import Market
16/05/2026
Viet Nam’s seafood exports are rebounding in 2026, with markets shifting: U.S. sales remain constrained by tariffs, while China’s imports surge. This shift is reshaping trade flows, cold-chain logistics, cross-border transport, and exporters’ supply chains.
China Becomes The Fastest-Growing Market For Vietnamese Seafood
According to data from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Viet Nam’s seafood exports reached approximately USD 3.7–4 billion in the first four months of 2026, up around 14–15% year-on-year. The industry’s full-year export target is currently set at USD 11.5–12.3 billion.
Most notably, China has become the fastest-growing market for Viet Nam’s seafood industry, recording growth of approximately 52.3%. In contrast, exports to the United States declined by around 7.4%, reflecting increasing pressure from trade remedies and stricter technical compliance requirements.
China currently accounts for approximately 26.7% of Viet Nam’s total seafood export turnover, surpassing both Japan and the United States to become the industry’s largest market.
While the seafood sector previously relied heavily on the U.S. and European markets, 2026 is seeing a strong shift toward Asian markets, where import demand is more stable and consumption cycles are shorter.
Seafood Logistics Trends Are Shifting
The rapid growth of the Chinese market is significantly changing how seafood products are transported and distributed.
Unlike long-haul ocean freight routes to the United States or Europe, the Chinese market requires shorter delivery cycles, faster inventory replenishment, and more stable supply continuity during peak consumption periods.
As a result, cross-border transportation, refrigerated containers, transit cold storage facilities, and cold-chain coordination capabilities are becoming increasingly important in seafood export operations.
In many cases, exporters are no longer focused solely on minimising costs. Instead, they are prioritising delivery reliability and shorter transit times to maintain product quality.
For frozen seafood products, even minor disruptions in vessel schedules or container dwell times can directly affect product quality, shelf life, and port-related costs.
According to data from Viet Nam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Viet Nam’s seafood exports reached approximately USD 3.7–4 billion in the first four months of 2026, up around 14–15% year-on-year. The industry’s full-year export target is currently set at USD 11.5–12.3 billion.
Most notably, China has become the fastest-growing market for Viet Nam’s seafood industry, recording growth of approximately 52.3%. In contrast, exports to the United States declined by around 7.4%, reflecting increasing pressure from trade remedies and stricter technical compliance requirements.
China currently accounts for approximately 26.7% of Viet Nam’s total seafood export turnover, surpassing both Japan and the United States to become the industry’s largest market.
While the seafood sector previously relied heavily on the U.S. and European markets, 2026 is seeing a strong shift toward Asian markets, where import demand is more stable and consumption cycles are shorter.
Seafood Logistics Trends Are Shifting
The rapid growth of the Chinese market is significantly changing how seafood products are transported and distributed.
Unlike long-haul ocean freight routes to the United States or Europe, the Chinese market requires shorter delivery cycles, faster inventory replenishment, and more stable supply continuity during peak consumption periods.
As a result, cross-border transportation, refrigerated containers, transit cold storage facilities, and cold-chain coordination capabilities are becoming increasingly important in seafood export operations.
In many cases, exporters are no longer focused solely on minimising costs. Instead, they are prioritising delivery reliability and shorter transit times to maintain product quality.
For frozen seafood products, even minor disruptions in vessel schedules or container dwell times can directly affect product quality, shelf life, and port-related costs.
Cold-Chain Logistics Becomes A Direct Competitive Advantage
According to businesses in the industry, demand for cold-chain logistics is rising rapidly alongside export recovery.
In 2026, the market continues to face pressure related to refrigerated container availability, freight rates, vessel space allocation, and cold-storage capacity in key export regions.
In particular, the characteristics of the Chinese market are driving stronger demand for flexible cold-chain transportation models, including:
According to businesses in the industry, demand for cold-chain logistics is rising rapidly alongside export recovery.
In 2026, the market continues to face pressure related to refrigerated container availability, freight rates, vessel space allocation, and cold-storage capacity in key export regions.
In particular, the characteristics of the Chinese market are driving stronger demand for flexible cold-chain transportation models, including:
- Cross-border trucking
- Multimodal transportation
- Short-term transshipment
- And seasonal container coordination
This trend is transforming logistics from a supporting function into a core component of exporters’ competitive strategies.
Companies capable of maintaining stable cold-chain operations, controlling transportation data, and responding quickly to market changes will hold a major advantage in retaining international customers.
Seafood Supply Chains Are Becoming More Flexible
Diverging conditions across export markets are forcing seafood exporters to adapt their operating models.
Rather than focusing solely on production volume and pricing, competitiveness is now increasingly determined by:
In the Mekong Delta – Viet Nam’s largest seafood farming and processing hub – demand for integrated logistics solutions is also rising as businesses seek to reduce storage pressure and shorten delivery times to international markets.
Logistics Capabilities Will Determine Competitive Advantage In The Next Growth Cycle
Viet Nam’s seafood export outlook for 2026 is significantly more positive compared to the previous slowdown period. However, the market is no longer operating under the same model as before.
China’s rapid import growth is creating new trade flows and placing greater emphasis on speed, flexibility, and stable cold-chain operations throughout the supply chain.
In this environment, logistics capabilities will play a decisive role in helping exporters maintain stable orders, optimise costs, and reduce delivery risks.
Businesses that adapt quickly and build resilient cold-chain logistics networks will be better positioned to capture growth opportunities in the next phase of Viet Nam’s seafood export expansion.
>> Read more: Part 1: U.S. Tariffs on Vietnamese Shrimp
Contact Vantage Logistics for tailored transport solutions and competitive quotations.
Please provide details on cargo type, market, origin, destination, and estimated timeline.
Send your shipment enquiry today and receive a tailored transport plan from the Vantage Logistics team.
Companies capable of maintaining stable cold-chain operations, controlling transportation data, and responding quickly to market changes will hold a major advantage in retaining international customers.
Seafood Supply Chains Are Becoming More Flexible
Diverging conditions across export markets are forcing seafood exporters to adapt their operating models.
Rather than focusing solely on production volume and pricing, competitiveness is now increasingly determined by:
- Delivery speed
- Cold-chain continuity
- And logistics flexibility
In the Mekong Delta – Viet Nam’s largest seafood farming and processing hub – demand for integrated logistics solutions is also rising as businesses seek to reduce storage pressure and shorten delivery times to international markets.
Logistics Capabilities Will Determine Competitive Advantage In The Next Growth Cycle
Viet Nam’s seafood export outlook for 2026 is significantly more positive compared to the previous slowdown period. However, the market is no longer operating under the same model as before.
China’s rapid import growth is creating new trade flows and placing greater emphasis on speed, flexibility, and stable cold-chain operations throughout the supply chain.
In this environment, logistics capabilities will play a decisive role in helping exporters maintain stable orders, optimise costs, and reduce delivery risks.
Businesses that adapt quickly and build resilient cold-chain logistics networks will be better positioned to capture growth opportunities in the next phase of Viet Nam’s seafood export expansion.
>> Read more: Part 1: U.S. Tariffs on Vietnamese Shrimp
Contact Vantage Logistics for tailored transport solutions and competitive quotations.
Please provide details on cargo type, market, origin, destination, and estimated timeline.
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