Industry associations assess that fisheries and fruit and vegetable exports in 2026 could increase by approximately 2 billion USD compared to the previous year. However, alongside market expansion opportunities, businesses still face numerous challenges from technical barriers, compliance costs, and increasingly high requirements from importing markets.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), stated that in the first four months of 2026, seafood exports were estimated at nearly 4 billion USD, an increase of over 14% compared to the same period in 2025. If the current growth rate is maintained and arising difficulties are effectively resolved, the total seafood export turnover for the year could increase by about 1 billion USD compared to the 11.3 billion USD recorded in 2025.

According to the VASEP representative, most seafood groups recorded positive growth, although there was differentiation among commodities. Specifically, pangasius decreased by about 6%, while many other products continued to maintain upward momentum.

Regarding markets, China remains a bright spot for Vietnamese seafood exports. In the first four months alone, export turnover to the China and Hong Kong markets reached over 1 billion USD, a sharp increase over the same period last year. Conversely, exports to the United States decreased by about 6% due to impacts from trade policies and investigative cases related to anti-subsidy, labor, and trade remedies.

Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam noted that recently, major markets like the U.S. and Europe have continuously updated regulations related to seafood imports, requiring businesses to adjust to meet new standards.

For the European market, requirements regarding traceability, environmental protection, and social responsibility are becoming increasingly stringent. Maintaining the "yellow card" status for exploited seafood continues to exert significant pressure on businesses during the export process.

Beyond international market barriers, domestic enterprises are also facing rising pressure regarding compliance costs. Many businesses reported that having to invest simultaneously in private environmental treatment systems and connecting to centralized treatment systems in industrial zones has significantly increased production costs.

According to VASEP, to maintain sustainable export growth, it is necessary to continue improving the business environment, reducing compliance costs, and strengthening dialogue between regulatory authorities and the business community to promptly resolve difficulties and update new requirements from import markets.

Along with fisheries, the fruit and vegetable industry recorded many positive signals. Mr. Dinh Cao Khue, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, said that in the first four months of 2026, fruit and vegetable export turnover reached over 2.6 billion USD, an increase of about 22% over the same period last year.

According to forecasts from the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, if the current growth momentum is maintained, fruit and vegetable exports for the full year could reach approximately 9.5 billion USD, an increase of nearly 1 billion USD compared to 2025.

In the commodity structure, fruit continues to hold the mainstay role. Notably, durian recorded a growth rate of about 170% thanks to favorable market demand and the expansion of exports to many new markets.

Mr. Dinh Cao Khue, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetable Association, argued that market room for the fruit and vegetable industry remains vast if product quality is well-guaranteed and technical standards of importing countries are fully met. Furthermore, the improvement of domestic crop varieties has contributed to enhancing productivity and adaptability to climate conditions.

However, the ratio of fresh exports currently still accounts for about 80%, indicating that the processing industry remains limited. This is considered a bottleneck that needs to be addressed soon to enhance added value, reduce dependence on fresh exports, and increase resilience against market fluctuations.

According to industry associations, to maintain growth momentum in the coming period, it is necessary to continue perfecting the production–processing–consumption chain, promote raw material area linkages, and strengthen the application of science and technology, particularly in the fields of crop varieties and deep processing.

In 2025, seafood exports reached about 11.3 billion USD, while fruits and vegetables reached about 8.56 billion USD, creating an important foundation for the 2026 growth target. The agricultural sector sets a goal for total export turnover of agriculture, forestry, and fishery products in 2026 to reach approximately 73-74 billion USD, with key markets continuing to be China, the United States, and the EU.

Source: Bao Dien tu Chinh phu