According to data from Vietnam Customs, seafood exports to India reached USD 11.4 million in the first seven months of 2025, up 41.6% year-on-year. While Vietnam’s seafood export turnover to India remains modest, the rapidly growing demand in this vast market offers major prospects for Vietnamese exporters.

Pangasius (tra fish) remained the top export item, increasing 18.1% in volume and 27.5% in value. Notably, frozen shrimp - the second most important item - recorded a staggering surge of over 2,492% in volume and nearly 814% in value compared to the same period last year.

For example, in the first half of 2025, frozen tuna exports to India rose nearly 278% in volume and 266% in value. Dried anchovy exports grew approximately 119% in volume and 116% in value, while frozen squid skyrocketed by 1,400% in volume and 200% in value.

Among all seafood products, frozen tilapia was the standout, with India spending nearly 47 times more on it than during the same period in 2024.

Frozen tilapia became the fastest-growing export item to India, with a volume increase of more than 3,900% and a value surge of nearly 4,600%.

In Vietnam, beyond traditional export leaders like shrimp and pangasius, tilapia is gaining traction due to advantages in farming area, production output, and the availability of processing plants for value-added products.

According to World Trade Center (ITC) data from the first four months of 2025, Vietnam has become the second-largest seafood supplier to India by volume and the fourth-largest by value.

Experts highlight that expanding into the Indian market is a strategic move for Vietnam's seafood industry to diversify exports and reduce dependence on traditional markets, especially amid the US imposing a 20% countervailing duty on Vietnamese goods.

However, to sustain this growth momentum, Vietnamese seafood exporters must strictly adhere to India's regulations on food safety, antibiotic residues, and processing facility registration.

Tam An