Vietnamese crab exports to the US increased sharply

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first 4 months of the year, Vietnamese crab exports to markets reached nearly 23 million USD, an increase of 33% over the same period in 2025.

In the US market alone, Vietnamese crab reached a turnover of 19 million USD in 4 months, an increase of 45% over the same period. This is currently the overwhelming consumer market for this product, accounting for 82% of total turnover.

The US is the world’s largest crab importer, especially frozen crab products, with an import value of about 1.1 billion USD per year. This level far exceeds the next markets such as Japan, China, and Korea.

As for the blue crab group, the US has a great influence on global demand and is mainly imported from Asia. In Vietnam, American consumers “love” crab meat and processed crab, especially products serving retail channels, restaurants and convenience foods.

According to VASEP, Vietnam’s crab industry has been recognized by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as equivalent to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), creating more room for stable consumption.

VASEP believes that the dependence of crab products on the US market is not new. However, future growth will depend more on the ability to control raw material sources, traceability and maintain sustainable exploitation standards.

Growth occurs fairly steadily each month, which is a positive sign in the context that global seafood trade is still under pressure from costs, cautious purchasing power and increasingly stricter technical requirements.

Crab exports are a bright spot in the context that seafood products in general to the US are under pressure. According to the Customs Department, the turnover of seafood products to this market reached 702 million USD in the first 5 months of the year, down more than 8% compared to the same period in 2025.