Japan tops importers of Vietnam’s fishery products

Japan has surpassed the US to become the biggest importer of Vietnam’s seafood products, reaching over 310 million USD in value in the first quarter of 2023, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

However, revenue from this market still dropped 11% compared to the same period last year, as statistics show.

Exports to Japan fell sharply in terms of some key products, such as white-legged shrimp, which was down 35%; salmon, which was down 4%; and octopus, which was down 6%.

Meanwhile, increases were seen mainly in caught seafood, including squid, scad, pollock, tuna, and jack mackerel, rising about 13–88%.

VASEP predicted that China will become the largest market for Vietnam’s fishery products. However, competitive pressure is high as exporters in other countries have also been focusing on this Northeast Asian market since its post-pandemic reopening.