Rising consumption demand in China is turning lobsters into one of the most prominent growth drivers of the Vietnamese seafood industry in 2026.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first 6 months of this year, seafood exports to the China and Hong Kong market reached approximately 1.5 billion USD, up 37.9% compared to the same period last year, accounting for 25.8% of the country's total seafood export turnover. This also constitutes the highest increase level within the group of the sector's core export markets.

Powerful growth from this market originates from multiple product groups such as shrimp, pangasius, lobsters, mollusks, and live or frozen seafood. Against the shrimp industry specifically, VASEP evaluated that China is serving as the market driving growth, particularly lobsters emerging as an exceptionally crucial factor thanks to high-end consumption demand continuing to expand.

VASEP stated that, in just 5 months, lobster exports to China reached 506 million USD, up 44.3% compared to the same period last year.

Notably, green lobsters continue to be the core commodity when achieving a turnover of 503.9 million USD, occupying up to 99.53% of the total lobster export value to this market. Meanwhile, other lobster lines reached approximately 2.4 million USD, occupying 0.47%, surging by 345% compared to the same period last year.

According to evaluations from seafood enterprises, consumption demand for live seafood and high-end products in China still maintains at high levels. Lobsters serve as a commodity serving the restaurant, party, festival, gift segments, and the well-off income customer group, thereby bearing less impact compared to multiple common seafood products.

Vietnam currently possesses multiple advantages in this race, from close geographical positions and short transportation times to flexible live goods supply capacities. Particularly, Vietnam's small and medium-sized green lobsters carry competitive prices, matching the consumption demand of the Chinese market and being favorable across land transportation as well as air transport.

Another crucial factor is the supply structure alteration of lobsters into China over the past time. When a number of traditional supply sources such as Canada, the United States, and Australia encountered difficulties due to tariff, trade factors, or market recovery processes, Vietnamese enterprises rapidly utilized opportunities to expand market shares.

Vietnam rose to become one of the largest lobster supply sources for the Chinese market in 2025 and continues to maintain positive growth momentum in 2026.

VASEP argued that the fact that lobster exports achieved positive results in the initial months of the year helps the commodity possess opportunities to cross the billion-dollar milestone in the coming time. To firmly maintain this advantage, the lobster sector needs to continue elevating quality, guaranteeing traceability, and satisfying the increasingly strict requirements from the importing market.

Source: Bao Tien Phong