Why did China spend as much as US$845 million on this premium seafood from Vietnam in 2025, a sharp jump from US$363.5 million in 2024?

According to Le Hang, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Chinese consumers are increasingly drawn to high-quality, safe and traceable seafood products, and are willing to pay a premium for distinctive culinary experiences.

Notably, instead of focusing on low-priced frozen shrimp, they are shifting toward higher-end segments such as large-sized shrimp, live and fresh lobster, and deeply processed products for restaurants and hotels. Hang emphasized that this change in consumer preference has created strong momentum for Vietnamese lobster, which is widely recognized for its quality and well suited to the premium market segment.

Alongside this trend, lobster demand in China typically spikes during year-end festive seasons and the Lunar New Year. Lobster is favored at banquets for its striking appearance and bright red color symbolizing luck. In particular, small-sized lobsters weighing 150 - 300 grams each are popular at the seafood buffet restaurants that are currently in vogue across China.

Beyond Chinese consumers’ readiness to open their wallets, the VASEP deputy secretary general noted that booming lobster exports have also been fueled by positive developments in Vietnam - China agricultural and fisheries trade relations.

In addition, Vietnam’s key seafood products such as lobster, black tiger shrimp and pangasius are granted zero import tariffs by China under free trade agreements including ACFTA and RCEP. Thanks to this advantage, Vietnamese lobster is far more price-competitive than lobster from the US and Canada, which face import tariffs of around 17% and 32%, respectively.

Vietnam also benefits from geographical proximity, shortening transport time for live lobster shipments to China and reducing mortality rates as well as logistics costs. The country has quickly adapted to inspection and quarantine requirements and import regulations imposed by Chinese authorities.

Notably, to meet China’s enormous demand, Vietnamese enterprises currently enjoy abundant supplies of green lobster, a key advantage that allows exporters to ramp up shipments swiftly whenever the Chinese market shows signs of shortage.

Statistics show that China imported 17,365 tonnes of lobster from Vietnam in the first three quarters of 2025, nearly tripling the figure from the same period in 2024, Hang cited, adding that the volume far exceeded the industry’s target of 3,000 tonnes by 2025.

From a market perspective, China is also seeking to diversify supply sources and reduce dependence on Western partners. In 2025, the country cut lobster imports from North America while increasing purchases from Vietnam and other ASEAN nations.

As a result, Vietnam officially surpassed Canada, which accounted for 22%, to become China’s largest lobster supplier last year, holding a 34% share of total import value. This marked a dramatic rise from just 1.7% in 2023 and 18% in 2024.

According to VASEP, in January this year, Vietnam’s lobster exports to China, including Hong Kong, reached about US$100 million, up 6% compared to the same period in 2025. The figure indicates that demand remains strong at the start of 2026, reinforcing Vietnam’s position in the premium lobster segment in the world’s most populous nation.

However, 2026 will be a test of resilience. Those who can maintain product quality, delivery speed and stable distribution channels will be able to retain market share as Canada re-enters the race and competition in the high-end segment intensifies, VASEP cautioned.

Tam An