Last year, the export value of Vietnamese fish cakes and surimi products continued to grow, and this growth trend is expected to continue in 2026.

According to SeafoodMedia, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi products are expected to exceed $344 million in 2025, a 15% increase compared to 2024 and a 13% increase compared to 2023, but still below the historical peak reached in 2022. The top five import markets for Vietnamese surimi and its products are South Korea, Thailand, China, the European Union, and Japan, with these five markets accounting for over 81% of the total export value of such products from Vietnam. Among these, exports to the European Union exceeded $35 million, almost doubling compared to 2024 (an increase of 99%); exports to China continued to grow throughout the year, exceeding $54 million, a 41% increase year-on-year; exports to South Korea were close to $83 million, with a year-on-year increase of only 5%. Looking ahead to 2026, driven by strong demand for convenient and high-value-added products, the global market for surimi and its products is expected to continue expanding. At the same time, it is expected that the growth rate of demand for high-value-added products such as crab sticks and seasoned fish cakes will exceed the growth rate of demand for basic raw materials. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) stated that as long as Vietnamese exporters continue to increase investment in quality improvement, compliance, and product innovation, Vietnam's fish cake and surimi exports are expected to maintain a growth trend in 2026.