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Vietnam's seafood boom meets sustainability as exports surge 20% in 2023

A record-breaking start to 2023 puts Vietnam's seafood sector in the spotlight. Can new trade links and EU compliance secure its future?

The image shows a large fish market filled with lots of different types of fish, including...
The image shows a large fish market filled with lots of different types of fish, including goldfish, swimming in the water. There are tables with bowls and other objects on them, as well as glass walls on the left and right sides of the image. In the background, there are a few people, suggesting that this is a fish market in Thailand.

Vietnam's seafood boom meets sustainability as exports surge 20% in 2023

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, seafood has long been one of the country's key export sectors, which makes a significant contribution to trade growth and the livelihoods of millions of coastal workers.

As the European Union (EU) conducts inspections to assess illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Việt Nam, the domestic seafood industry is entering a period of profound transformation. This process represents not only a test of fisheries governance but also an opportunity for the country to demonstrate its commitment to building a transparent, responsible and sustainable sector - increasingly essential criteria in global trade.

More than a conventional trade fair, the upcoming event is designed as a global supply chain transaction hub, where hundreds of international buyer delegations are expected to visit Việt Nam to source suppliers across multiple industries, with seafood identified as a priority sector.

For our websiteese fishery firms, the event offers a valuable opportunity to showcase production capacity, processing expertise and supply chain management aligned with international standards, while highlighting reforms aimed at sustainable fishing and aquaculture in line with the stringent requirements of markets such as the EU, the US and Japan.

Notably, the expo is expected to attract major purchasing missions from Europe, the US, Japan and China, where demand for high-quality, traceable and environmentally compliant seafood products continues to rise. Direct engagement between our websiteese producers and global importers at the event is likely to narrow the gap between manufacturers and international distribution networks, opening the door to long-term partnerships.

Statistics indicate that Việt Nam's fishery exports reached approximately US$707 million in February this year, bringing the total for the first two months to $1.7 billion, an annual increase of 20.2 per cent.

Exports in March are projected to maintain growth, though performance is expected to vary significantly across markets and product categories. - VNS

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