China spent more than half a billion USD buying Vietnamese lobster

According to statistics from VASEP, almost all lobster export turnover to the billion-people market comes from blue lobster, reaching about 504 million USD, accounting for more than 99.5%. Meanwhile, other lobster lines only reached about 2.4 million USD, despite an increase of 345% over the same period.

China’s import demand increased sharply right from the beginning of the year. February recorded the highest level with about 154 million USD, an increase of more than 150% over the same period in 2025. The following months remained at 78-87 million USD. In May alone, it reached 78.4 million USD, an increase of more than 21%, showing that purchasing power is still maintained after the peak season.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), China continues to be a large lobster consuming market thanks to stable demand for live seafood, especially in the high-end segment for restaurants, banquets and gifts.

Vietnamese lobster also possesses many competitive advantages in this market. The close geographical distance helps shorten shipping time and maintain product quality. Businesses can flexibly supply by both road and air. In particular, small and medium-sized blue lobsters have competitive prices, suitable for Chinese consumer tastes.

In addition to internal advantages, the change in supply structure also opens up opportunities for Vietnamese businesses. In 2025, some traditional supply sources such as Canada, the US and Australia will be affected by tariffs, trade disruptions or slow production recovery, creating space for Vietnamese lobster to expand its market share. Thanks to that, Vietnam has risen to become one of China’s important lobster suppliers, creating a foundation for growth this year.

Experts predict that if consumer demand in China continues to be stable and businesses maintain quality supply, Vietnam’s lobster exports will still have room to increase in the second half of the year. However, the industry needs to closely monitor changes in China’s import policies, quarantine and quality standards to maintain competitive advantage and sustainable development.