In 2025, seafood exports target 10.5 billion USD

In 2024, seafood export turnover will reach more than 10 billion USD, an increase of 12.1% compared to 2023. This industry also sets a rather modest target of 10.5 billion USD for 2025.

Continue to open the market

According to the report of the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in 2024, the total aquatic product output will reach more than 9.6 million tons, an increase of 2% compared to 2023. Of which, the output of aquatic exploitation will reach nearly 3.86 million tons, the output of aquaculture will reach more than 5.75 million tons. The export turnover of aquatic products is estimated at more than 10 billion USD, reaching 106% of the plan, an increase of 12.1% compared to 2023.

In 2025, seafood exports are targeted at 10.5 billion USD. Illustrative photo

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan - Director of the Department of Fisheries - assessed that in the past year, the promotion of aquaculture development in reservoirs has brought many positive results. In addition, there has been a bright spot in tilapia exports, especially in the Northern region. In addition, eels, frogs, etc. are also potential targets to target in the future.

In addition to the achieved results, according to the assessment of Mr. Pham Quang Toan - Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries, this industry still has many shortcomings and limitations. Infrastructure in many farming areas is not guaranteed; the water supply system for aquaculture is mainly shared with the irrigation system for agricultural production, not suitable for the technical requirements of aquaculture.

Although investment has been paid to the infrastructure of fishing ports and storm shelters, they have not yet met the development requirements of the industry. Maintenance and repair work has not received attention from the local authorities and funding has not been allocated according to regulations. The application and transfer of science and technology in aquaculture and fisheries exploitation are still limited. Links in production, processing and consumption of aquatic products are not tight.

Meanwhile, Mr. Le Thanh Hoa - Deputy Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - commented that our country's seafood export turnover in 2024 exceeded the 10 billion USD mark, which is a success for the entire industry. However, in 2025, it is necessary to monitor more closely the issue of antibiotic residues in exported seafood shipments.

Regarding the market, Mr. Hoa said that in 2025, the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development will actively coordinate with the Department of Animal Health in disease surveillance so that Saudi Arabia will soon reopen its doors to Vietnamese farmed shrimp and fish. At the same time, it will actively negotiate and try to exploit the Chinese market better.

The 2025 export target is still quite modest.

2025 is the final year to accelerate and break through to the finish line of the 5-year Fisheries Development Plan for the period 2021 - 2025, while preparing for the Industry Development Plan 2026 - 2030. Therefore, Mr. Pham Quang Toan informed that the Department of Fisheries will continue to implement the policy of the Fisheries Development Strategy, which is to reduce exploitation and increase aquaculture. In addition, developing the fisheries economy in a sustainable direction, adapting to climate change, and improving the competitiveness of fishery products. Continuing to implement the goal of "Transforming from a mindset of fisheries production to a mindset of fisheries economy" and "transforming from single-value growth to multi-value integrated growth".

Regarding this, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan said that there are two key issues that the aquaculture industry will focus on in 2025, which are to more strictly control the quality of shrimp breeds in particular, aquatic breeds in general, and the use of antibiotics in aquaculture.

In 2025, the aquaculture industry aims to have a total aquaculture area of ​​over 1.3 million hectares, an increase of 2% compared to 2024, of which freshwater aquaculture area is 390 thousand hectares; brackish water aquaculture area is 937 thousand hectares. Total output is about 9.6 million tons, equivalent to 2024, of which exploited output is nearly 3.66 million tons, down 5.2% compared to 2024; aquaculture output is over 5.95 million tons, up 3.5% compared to 2024. Export turnover is about 10.5 billion USD.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien speaks at the conference to review the work in 2024 and deploy the work plan for 2025 of the Department of Fisheries held on the morning of January 3 in Hanoi. Photo: Hong Tham

Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - commented that the growth of the aquaculture industry still has a lot of room. For those with advantages such as shrimp, pangasius, mollusks, etc., it is necessary to improve productivity, solve problems related to antibiotics, diseases, tighten the quality of shrimp seeds, feed, nutrition, etc. to ensure sustainability. Promote the development of new potential farming objects such as seaweed, eel, tilapia, etc.

Regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, it is necessary to continue to strengthen the management of fishing fleets, fishing vessel monitoring equipment (VMS), handling of administrative violations, and traceability; before, during and after Tet, it is necessary to actively inspect the situation in localities.

In recent times, science and technology have made great contributions, but in the new context, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien said that strong changes are needed, "science must come from practice, must serve practice". In addition, special attention should be paid to investment and upgrading of infrastructure, strengthening international cooperation, paying attention to processing, developing markets, promoting coordination with units, strengthening communication work... In addition, green transformation is an indisputable trend of the world...

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, in 2024, seafood exports will reach over 10 billion USD. The shrimp industry has achieved an export volume of nearly 3.9 billion USD, up 15% compared to 2023. Pangasius exports also returned to the 2 billion USD mark in 2024, up 9% compared to the previous year. Exploited seafood exports also recorded success with a turnover of over 4 billion USD. In 2025, seafood exports are expected to continue to grow better, possibly surpassing the 10 billion USD mark, returning to the 11 billion USD mark of 2022.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/nam-2025-xuat-khau-thuy-san-dat-muc-tieu-105-ty-usd-367804.html