Exports of a commodity to the US have just witnessed a surge of up to 74%.

According to statistical data from Vietnam Customs, blue swimming crab export turnover in the first 6 months of 2026 reached 43 million USD, up 56% compared to the same period in 2025. The export value of Vietnam's commodity group grew continuously month over month, at an increasingly high pace.

Notably, Vietnam's blue swimming crab export growth is heavily concentrated on the US market. In the first 6 months of 2026, blue swimming crab exports to the US reached 36 million USD, surging by 74% compared to the same period and accounting for 82% of Vietnam's total blue swimming crab export turnover.

The proportion of the US market in Vietnam's total blue swimming crab exports is also showing an upward trend. This demonstrates that the US is not only increasing purchase volumes but is also increasingly occupying a dominant position in Vietnam's blue swimming crab export market structure.

In Q2, Vietnam's blue swimming crab exports to the US recorded increasingly rapid growth rates. Orders increased markedly after May, reflecting large demand for Vietnamese blue swimming crab supplies against a backdrop where the US market increasingly emphasizes products with transparent origins, stable supplies, and compliance with new import requirements.

The US is currently the world's largest importer of blue swimming crabs, particularly for frozen crab products, with an import value of approximately 1.1 billion USD annually. This level far surpasses subsequent major import markets such as Japan, China, and South Korea.

Specifically for the blue swimming crab group, the US exerts a major influence on global market demand and primarily imports from the Asian region. In this market, US consumers maintain high demand for meat crab products, processed crab, particularly products serving retail channels, restaurants, and convenience foods.

According to VASEP, the reliance of Vietnamese blue swimming crab products on the US market is not a new trend. However, future growth will depend more on the capability to control raw material sources, trace origins, and maintain sustainable harvesting standards.

VASEP has formulated three specific scenarios to proactively manage production and business operations in 2026:

In a positive scenario, seafood export turnover could reach over 12.5 billion USD—equivalent to a growth rate exceeding 12%—if multiple barriers in the US market are cleared or tariff policies alter in a favorable direction.

In a baseline scenario, full-year 2026 seafood export turnover is projected to reach 12.1–12.3 billion USD. Under this scenario, export turnover is expected to increase by approximately 8–10% compared to 2025.

For crab, blue swimming crab, and lobster commodities, these are viewed as product groups possessing ample growth room, particularly in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, traditional markets such as the US, EU, and Japan are forecasted to grow more slowly in the second half of 2026.

Source: CafeF