HCMC – Vietnam’s seafood exports to the U.S. declined significantly in January 2026 after enforcement of the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), seafood exports to the U.S. in January reached more than US$96 million, down 9.9% from the same month last year.
Among key categories, tuna exports to the U.S. fell 14% year-on-year to US$57.2 million, while exports of crabs and other crustaceans declined 10.6% to US$31.4 million in January. VASEP attributed the declines to tighter U.S. import requirements under the MMPA.
In September 2025, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notified Vietnam’s fisheries authorities that it would not recognise equivalence for 12 Vietnamese fishing methods under the MMPA. As a result, seafood harvested using those methods became ineligible for U.S. import from January 1, 2026.
VASEP said delays in issuing the Certificate of Admissibility (COA), which certifies seafood products for U.S. entry, have also disrupted shipments.
Despite setbacks in some categories, several Vietnam seafood products posted growth in January. Shrimp exports rose 6.4% year-on-year to US$331 million, tra fish exports increased 33.2% to US$177.4 million, and squid and octopus exports were up 30.9% at US$68.5 million.
Overall, Vietnam’s total seafood export value in January reached US$874 million, up 12.9% year-on-year.
Looking ahead, VASEP forecast a slowdown in seafood exports in February, citing the Lunar New Year holiday, ongoing MMPA implementation challenges and uncertainty over the outcome of a U.S. anti-dumping duty review on shrimp scheduled for announcement on February 17, 2026.
