Why did Vietnamese snails suddenly become a 'hot commodity' in China?

Published May 13, 2025

Tridge summary

In the first quarter of 2025, Vietnam witnessed a significant surge in shellfish exports to China, with a 109% increase from the previous year, reaching a value of 63 million USD. China and Hong Kong have emerged as the dominant markets, accounting for 37% of the total exports, a notable rise from 4% in the same period of the previous year. The exports to China included 16 million USD worth of live snails, 5 million USD of live clams, and 3 million USD of frozen scallops. This shift underscores China's growing preference for high-quality fresh and frozen seafood products. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) emphasizes the importance for Vietnamese enterprises to invest in product quality, post-harvest preservation, and traceability to meet China's market standards. Additionally, strengthening logistics connections and leveraging new policies following a high-level visit between Vietnam and China are key strategies for expanding market share in China.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

China is leading the import of Vietnamese shellfish In the first quarter of 2025, Vietnam's shellfish exports reached a total turnover of 63 million USD, an increase of 109% over the same period last year. In particular, the Chinese and Hong Kong (China) markets rose to the leading position, with a total import value of more than 23 million USD, an increase of nearly 2,000%. If in the first quarter of 2024, China and Hong Kong (China) only accounted for 4%, then in the first quarter of 2025, this market jumped to 37%. This figure far exceeds other important markets such as the EU with 18 million USD, the US with more than 6 million USD. The most popular shellfish in China are snails, clams and scallops. Of which, China spent up to 16 million USD to buy live snails from Vietnam, nearly 5 million USD to buy live clams and nearly 3 million USD to buy frozen scallops. These products are consumed well in the coastal areas of southern China - where the food service industry is ...

Source: Agriculture