According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam's seafood export turnover to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) hit US$612 million in 2017, up from only US$66 million in 1998. ASEAN ranked fifth among the most important markets of Vietnamese seafood. Of note, ASEAN surpassed South Korea to become Vietnam's biggest fried fish paste and surimi importer with a value of US$43 million. Vietnamese fishery products have been shipped to all other ASEAN countries, with top items being saltwater fish, tra fish, cuttlefish and octopus.
