Seafood exports continue to be a bright spot
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in the first 5 months of the year, Vietnam's export turnover of agricultural, forestry and fishery products is estimated at 29.82 billion USD, an increase of 6.1% compared to the same period in 2025. Of which, imports were 22.28 billion USD, an increase of 12.6%, with a trade surplus of 7.54 billion USD. By commodity group, forestry, fishery and agricultural products are 3 commodity groups with a trade balance surplus in the first 5 months of 2026. In which, the seafood group had a surplus of 3.35 billion USD, an increase of 15.5%.
In the context of global trade still fluctuating, seafood continues to be a bright spot, in which shrimp and pangasius are still 2 export products and create a unique position for Vietnamese seafood. In the world market, Vietnam continues to be in the top 3 largest shrimp exporting countries with an export market share of about 12% of global shrimp export value.
Pangasius is also a Vietnamese product with clear advantages in terms of fuel area, processing system and international customer network. However, pangasius is under competitive pressure from other white meat fish such as catfish, tilapia... In addition, exploited seafood groups such as tuna, squid, octopus, crabs and some other seafood products continue to add growth space.
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that one of the highlights to make seafood export turnover break through is Vietnam's seafood processing technology capacity. "It can be said that Vietnam is leading the world in the level of processing value-added seafood products. This is currently an advantage for us against some competitive seafood exporting countries such as Ecuador or India. Instant and convenient products have helped retain customers in the high-end segment despite the great competitive pressure.
Besides seafood, some other agricultural, forestry and fishery products also maintained positive growth momentum such as wood and wood products, export value in May is estimated at 1.55 billion USD, bringing the total export value in the first 5 months of the year to 7.12 billion USD, an increase of 4.4% compared to the same period in 2025.
In the livestock group, the export value of livestock products in the first 5 months of the year reached 308 million USD, an increase of 43.2%. This is a remarkable increase in the context that domestic livestock still faces many difficulties in feed costs, epidemics and increasing market demands. The vegetable and fruit industry is also a bright spot with export value in the first 5 months of the year reaching 2.69 billion USD, an increase of 16.8% compared to the same period.
Stable production, agricultural sector opens doors for export
Positive export results come from efforts to maintain production in many challenges.
In the seafood sector, prolonged hot weather causes difficulties for pond improvement, breeding and care in many localities, fuel and input material costs are still high, affecting the efficiency of production and exploitation of fishermen. However, the total seafood output in the first 5 months of the year is still estimated at 3.96 million tons, an increase of 3.5%. For seafood to continue to break through, the General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that we have overcome the market "shock", but this is only the time to enter a real competitive stage. "This is no longer a price race, but a race for transparency, traceability and compliance capacity. Seafood enterprises are facing many difficulties, making great efforts to overcome challenges and we need "substantial" and more companionship from management agencies to unlock flows that are blocked by some regulations and procedures.
According to Mr. Dang Ngoc Diep - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, to develop the fisheries sector in an efficient and sustainable direction, well meeting market requirements, minimizing risks of climate change and epidemics, in the coming time, the fisheries sector will focus on a number of strategic orientations such as continuing to improve institutions and unlock resources, organize production according to the value chain, form large-scale organized farming areas, achieve sustainable certification associated with farming area traceability. In particular, it is necessary to increase investment in research, application of science and technology, digital transformation - this is a key driving force to improve productivity and quality. In addition, it is necessary to maintain the current market, develop new markets, focus on removing non-tariff barriers, improve resilience and adapt to climate change, implement green transformation and circular economy, creating new growth momentum for the fisheries sector.
The above results show that the agricultural sector is maintaining a relatively stable production base, creating a source of goods for export. However, pressure from extreme weather, epidemics, input costs, market standards and trade competition is still present.
Regarding exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products in general, in the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment will develop scenarios for disaster and epidemic response to proactively prevent, detect early and handle promptly.
The Ministry will also closely follow policies of other countries and world market developments to inform and guide businesses and farmers to take advantage of export opportunities and adapt to the market; and at the same time ensure food security and appropriate rice reserves.
Along with that, the ministry accelerates negotiations, opens markets and develops the market for by-products in the agricultural sector. Effectively deploying the origin tracing system in the context of importing countries increasingly introducing origin standards for goods.
