Vietnam surimi and fishcake exports surge in EU, China, maintain solid position in Asia

Vietnam’s surimi and fishcake exports have recorded impressive growth this year, reaching nearly USD 228 million in the first eight months of 2025, up 26% year-on-year. The strong momentum was driven by traditional Asian markets as well as a sharp recovery in demand from the EU and China.

Asia remains the key growth engine

Asian destinations continue to dominate Vietnam’s surimi trade. South Korea and Thailand were the two largest single markets, with exports worth USD 56 million and USD 53 million, respectively. Both countries serve as major consumption and reprocessing hubs supplying neighboring regions.

Shipments to CPTPP markets also increased 24% to USD 37 million. Japan remained the top importer within the bloc, with nearly USD 21 million, up 22% from a year earlier, indicating recovering demand for high-quality, traditional processed seafood. Exports to South Korea, however, slipped slightly by just over 2% year-on-year.

EU and China emerge as bright spots

The EU market saw one of the strongest rebounds, with exports jumping 60% to almost USD 20 million. Economic recovery and easing inflation boosted demand for mid-priced, convenient seafood products. Lithuania led the increase, with imports up 69%, showing that Vietnamese exporters are effectively capitalizing on tariff benefits from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

Exports to China and Hong Kong also rose sharply, up 50% to USD 31 million, reflecting robust demand for both consumption and reprocessing. The market continues to open significant opportunities for Vietnamese suppliers.

In contrast, exports to the US remained sluggish, inching up just 2% to nearly USD 7 million amid trade policy uncertainties and cautious buying.

Outlook and challenges

Prospects for the remainder of 2025 are positive. Global consumers are increasingly turning to alternative, affordable, and convenient protein sources, a segment where surimi products have strong advantages.

Asian markets are expected to remain the main growth driver thanks to stable demand and pricing flexibility, while the EU recovery is likely to continue, focusing on affordable, ready-to-cook items.

However, exporters face rising competition from India, Thailand, and China, higher logistics and raw material costs, and tightening quality and traceability standards. To sustain growth, Vietnamese processors will need to keep improving product quality, efficiency, and competitiveness.

Source:  https://seafood.vasep.com.vn/