2025 Vietnam Fish Fillets (HS 0304) Export: Record Surge

Key Takeaways

Fish fillets, classified under HS Code 0304 (Fish fillets and other fish meat, fresh, chilled or frozen), exhibited high volatility from January to October 2025.

• Market Pulse: Exports surged 84.2% month-on-month in October to a record $507.1M after a mid-year contraction tied to U.S. tariff impacts.
• Structural Shift: Vietnam Fish fillets Export reliance on the U.S. (17.36% of value) creates concentration risk, with China and Vietnam’s domestic market offering volume-driven alternatives.
• Product Logic: HS Code 0304 trade data reveals a commodity-driven market, where frozen catfish fillets dominate (70% of weight), emphasizing cost efficiency over premium differentiation.

This overview covers the period from January to October 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Vietnam Fish Fillets (HS Code 0304) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Vietnam Fish fillets export trend across the first ten months of 2025 was defined by pronounced volatility and a strong year-end surge. After opening at $228.5M in January, exports fell 14% in February before rallying to a mid-year peak of $335.6M in May. The market then contracted through September, dropping 16.5% in June and another 10.4% by September, only to explode 84.2% month-on-month in October to a record $507.1M.

Drivers & Industry Context

The mid-year contraction aligns directly with the implementation of a 46% U.S. reciprocal tariff on Vietnamese seafood effective April 9, 2025 [Frasers Legal]. This policy eroded competitiveness in a key market, particularly for frozen pangasius fillets which dominated U.S. shipments (Frasers Legal). The October surge likely reflects accelerated shipments ahead of anticipated duties and strategic pivots to markets like China and Japan, where HS code 0304 value held premium pricing and volume demand remained strong [yTrade]. Concurrent Vietnamese traceability reforms further pressured exporters to secure preferential access in alternative markets before year-end quota exhaustion.

Table: Vietnam Fish Fillets Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam HS Code 0304 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

Vietnam's HS Code 0304 export market is dominated by frozen catfish fillets, which accounted for nearly half of the total export value and 70% of the weight from January to October 2025. According to yTrade data, skipjack tuna fillets and a broad category of other frozen fish fillets were the next largest segments, representing 18.7% and 10.6% of the value, respectively. The remaining exports consist primarily of frozen fish meat and fillets from species like salmon, cod, trout, and tilapia, which collectively make up the balance of this trade.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

The Vietnam HS Code 0304 breakdown reveals a classic commodity market structure, driven by volume and cost efficiency rather than high unit value specialization. While specific price-per-kg data is unavailable, the overwhelming volume share of lower-value species like catfish indicates strong price sensitivity. Exporters in this trade structure compete on scale and operational efficiency, with product differentiation limited to species type rather than advanced processing or branding. This analysis confirms a bulk-oriented export profile for frozen fish products.

Table: Vietnam HS Code 0304) Export Breakdown Details (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam Fish Fillets Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Vietnam's fish fillet exports from January to October 2025 show heavy reliance on the United States, which captured 17.36% of total export value. This concentration creates vulnerability to U.S. demand shifts or trade policy changes. While Vietnam and China mainland follow as secondary markets, their combined value share doesn't surpass the U.S. dominance. Exporters should monitor U.S. regulatory developments closely to mitigate potential disruptions to these key Vietnam Fish fillets export destinations.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The U.S. market demonstrates premium positioning with a value-to-weight ratio disparity—paying approximately $2.20/kg compared to Vietnam's $3.74/kg and China's $1.92/kg—indicating quality-conscious demand for higher-value specifications. In contrast, Vietnam's own import pattern and China's show commodity characteristics with higher volume but lower relative value, suggesting price-sensitive bulk processing. This divergence creates clear strategic options: target the U.S. for margin potential or pursue volume scale through Asian trade partners for Fish fillets.

Table: Vietnam Fish Fillets (HS Code 0304) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Vietnam Fish Fillets Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, the Vietnam Fish fillets buyers market is overwhelmingly dominated by a core of loyal, high-volume partners. This segment, responsible for 68.45% of the total export value, represents a stable, contract-based supply chain. This structure indicates the market is built on long-term relationships with major importers, rather than being fragmented or project-driven.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

These key accounts require a relationship-focused strategy that prioritizes supply chain reliability and consistent quality to maintain their recurring business. However, the heavy reliance on this single segment creates a notable concentration risk, especially with the new 46% US tariff effective from April 2025 [Frasersvn]. To mitigate this, suppliers should diversify their client base by targeting smaller, opportunistic buyers in less tariff-affected markets, capitalizing on HS Code 0304 buyer trends for spot demand.

Table: Vietnam Fish Fillets (HS Code 0304) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Fish Fillets Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify buyers: Target smaller, opportunistic importers in China and Japan to reduce dependence on U.S. contracts vulnerable to 46% tariffs.
• Optimize logistics: Prioritize cost reduction in bulk catfish shipments to offset thin margins in the HS Code 0304 commodity segment.
• Monitor U.S. policy: Track tariff updates and quota exhaustion risks to time shipments and avoid sudden demand shocks.
• Leverage premium markets: Capitalize on the U.S. value-to-weight disparity ($2.20/kg) by branding higher-quality fillets for margin growth.
• Accelerate traceability compliance: Secure preferential access in alternative markets before year-end quota limits hit.

Take Action Now —— Explore Vietnam Fish fillets HS Code 0304 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Vietnam Fish fillets Export in 2025?

Vietnam's fish fillet exports saw volatility in 2025, with a mid-year contraction due to a 46% U.S. tariff and an October surge from accelerated shipments and market pivots to China and Japan.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Vietnam Fish fillets (HS Code 0304) in 2025?

The U.S. was the top destination (17.36% of export value), followed by Vietnam itself and China, though their combined share didn’t surpass U.S. dominance.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Vietnam Fish fillets Export in 2025?

The U.S. paid $2.20/kg for premium-quality fillets, while China ($1.92/kg) and Vietnam ($3.74/kg) reflected bulk commodity pricing, indicating divergent demand preferences.

Q4. What should exporters in Vietnam focus on in the current Fish fillets export market?

Exporters should prioritize supply chain reliability for core U.S. buyers while diversifying into smaller, opportunistic markets to mitigate tariff risks.

Q5. What does this Vietnam Fish fillets export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

U.S. buyers face higher costs due to tariffs, while Asian buyers (China, Japan) benefit from stable volume supply and competitive pricing.

Q6. How is Fish fillets typically used in this trade flow?

Frozen catfish fillets dominate Vietnam’s exports (70% of volume), primarily for bulk processing or foodservice use, with minor segments like tuna and salmon catering to niche markets.

Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report

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