Chinese buyers spent $845 million on Vietnamese lobster in 2025, more than double the $363.5 million spent the previous year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Vietnam’s pangasius also generated strong revenue, with exports to China worth $691 million in 2025 and an additional $357 million in the first seven months of 2026.

Le Hang, deputy secretary general of VASEP, explained that the fish’s low price and its fit for the mass‑market dining segment have allowed it to spread quickly through Chinese restaurants, food‑service outlets and everyday consumers.

China’s own aquaculture is reaching its capacity limits, so the country will continue to rely on imports to meet demand. Vietnam’s ability to offer competitively priced, ready‑to‑cook seafood that matches Chinese consumers’ growing preference for convenient, premium‑grade products has therefore turned it into a key supplier for both lobster and pangasius.