Photo: VASEP/FIS

Vietnamese Processed Squid and Octopus Dominate East Asian and ASEAN Markets, Driving Record Exports

VIET NAM
Wednesday, December 03, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)

Convenience Craze Propels Export Turnover to $627 Million Amidst Global Market Swings

In the context of many fluctuations in the international seafood market, Vietnam's squid and octopus exports continued to record positive numbers in the first 10 months of 2025. Despite difficulties in domestic raw material supply, the squid and octopus processing and export industry still maintained impressive growth momentum. In October 2025, export turnover reached a new peak, showing strong demand from key markets at the end of the year, as reported by Ms. Kim Thu, Shrimp Market Expert at the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Remarkable Growth and Peak Turnover

By the end of October 2025, Vietnam's squid and octopus export turnover reached $627 million, marking a significant increase of 19% over the same period last year. Although domestic raw material supply remains scarce, October still saw the highest export turnover of squid and octopus since the beginning of the year, reaching $83 million. This represents a substantial rise of 25% compared to September and also a 25% increase compared to October 2024, driven by increasing international market demand at the end of the year, especially for convenient, pre-processed products.

Increased Demand from Key Markets

Vietnam's squid and octopus export market continues to be led by countries in the East Asia and ASEAN regions, collectively accounting for 94% of total turnover. South Korea remains the largest partner, commanding 38% of total exports, closely followed by Japan with 23%. Thailand, although an emerging market, has shown particularly strong growth, achieving 39% growth in the past 10 months. The main products exported to Thailand include dried squid and ready-to-eat grilled squid.

The special thing about these markets is that the consumption trend is shifting strongly towards convenient products such as instant dried squid, dried squid, and processed octopus. Markets such as Korea and Japan especially favor these processed products, significantly helping to boost the export of Vietnamese squid and octopus.

Strategic Opportunities from Processed Products (HS16)

One of the most notable factors in the 2025 squid and octopus export picture is the clear change in consumption trends. Processed products, specifically instant dried squid and frozen boiled octopus, are increasingly popular in key markets like Korea, Japan, and Thailand. These products are not only easy to use but also meet growing consumer demands for convenience and food safety.

This opens up great opportunities for Vietnamese processing and exporting enterprises. According to forecasts, if the domestic supply of raw materials stabilizes, the fourth quarter of 2025 may witness an additional growth of 10-15% compared to the third quarter. Thailand is especially a promising market with high demand for instant dried squid and one-sun-dried squid, which will be a bright spot in the export strategy.

Enterprises are advised to focus on stable, high-growth markets like Korea, Japan, and Thailand. Instant dried squid, dried squid, and processed octopus products will continue to be strategic products. Additionally, diversifying into processed products (HS16) is recommended, as these products not only bring in 20-30% higher profit margins than raw products but also align with market demand for convenience and food safety.

Although Vietnam's squid and octopus exports in 2025 are set to maintain positive growth, in 2026, they may face challenges if the IUU yellow card from the EU market and the "MMPA red card" from the US market are not removed. Therefore, businesses must focus on completing certifications and improving traceability to overcome legal barriers and protect export markets.

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