Vietnam grants market access to live seafood from the UK in 'significant breakthrough' for sector

The UK's fishing industry has received a shot in the arm after Vietnam granted market access to live seafood such as brown crab and lobster, in a development that authorities say will open up "new opportunities for growth and trade" and provide the sector with an alternative revenue stream.

The Southeast Asian country's decision to allow the importation of live seafood caught off the UK's sprawling coastline comes following discussions between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Vietnamese officials.

According to a 1 April statement from the UK government, these officials will now "work closely with the UK seafood sector and industry bodies to ensure a smooth transition into the Vietnamese market".

The news has been hailed by the UK's minister for exports, Gareth Thomas. "This is a welcome and significant breakthrough, opening up a new and lucrative market to live seafood exporters across the UK," he says.

David Jarrad, CEO of the Shellfish Association of Great Britain, is equally positive. "The opening of another market for our sector is great news for the industry and demonstrates the strong worldwide demand for the UK's quality live shellfish," he says.

Vietnam has a significant appetite for seafood, and consumers there eat roughly 37 kilograms per person every year, the UK government says. British exports of fresh, frozen and processed seafood products to Vietnam jumped by 40% in the first nine months of 2024 compared to 2023, it adds.

According to analysis of HMRC data by the public body Seafish, the top five destination markets for UK seafood by value in 2023 were France, the US, Spain, the Netherlands and China.

In terms of species, Seafish says the export value of salmon was £667mn in 2023, followed by mackerel, nephrops – also known as langoustine, trout and scallops, which had export values of £120mn, £115mn, £95mn and £91mn respectively.

UK exports to Vietnam hit £1.3bn in the four quarters ending Q3 2024, an increase of 2% compared to the four quarters ending Q3 2023, figures compiled by the DBT show. Vietnam was the UK’s 38^th largest trading partner in the four quarters ending Q3, 2024, the DBT adds.