Canadian Seafood Imports Surge in Vietnam, Driven by Lobster and Snow Crab

Vietnam's imports of Canadian seafood have surged, with lobster and snow crab gaining favor among consumers due to competitive pricing and consistent quality. According to Vietnam Customs, the country imported $61 million worth of Canadian seafood in 2025, an increase from $49 million in 2024 and $44 million in 2023. This upward trend has continued this year, with imports reaching $43.2 million in the first eight months, marking a 28.2% increase from the same period last year. Seafood businesses in Nova Scotia, Canada's leading seafood-exporting province, are actively seeking to expand into new markets. Lobster, the province's flagship product, accounts for over half of its total export value in 2025. With exports of live lobster down 19%, Nova Scotia is increasingly focusing on markets like Vietnam. Canadian snow crab and lobster are now widely available at seafood retailers across Vietnam. A manager at a seafood shop on Ly Tu Trong Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh Ward noted that consumers are attracted to Canadian products for their "relatively competitive prices and consistent quality." Canadian lobsters weighing 500–600 grams sell for around VND950,000–1.1 million ($37–38) per kilogram, while those weighing at least one kilogram cost about VND1.3–1.4 million. This is considerably cheaper than Australian lobster, priced at around VND3.5 million per kilogram, and domestic green lobster, which sells for about VND1.5 million. Live Canadian snow crab is priced at VND1.4–1.5 million per kilogram, approximately 30% less than some other imported crab varieties. Canadian oysters cost over VND400,000 per kilogram, compared to as much as VND1 million for certain French varieties. Tran Van Truong, CEO of seafood chain Hai San Hoang Gia, stated that stable and competitive pricing has made Canadian seafood accessible to a broader range of consumers. Preferential tariffs, such as the 0% import tariff on Canadian lobsters meeting CPTPP requirements, also contribute to lower prices. Jason Hollett, Nova Scotia’s deputy minister of agriculture and deputy minister of fisheries and aquaculture, mentioned that Vietnam is currently the province’s seventh-largest seafood export market. He led a delegation of Canadian seafood businesses to Vietnam in September to explore business opportunities. Provincial authorities report that Nova Scotia's premium seafood products constitute 29% of Canada's total seafood export value worldwide. Snow crab is Nova Scotia's largest seafood export to Vietnam by volume, valued at approximately CAD35 million ($25.3 million) in 2025, while lobster exports were worth about CAD8 million ($5.8 million).