For the first time, Vietnam has entered the top four largest seafood exporters to Singapore, marking a significant milestone for the country’s seafood industry on the global stage.
Singapore’s Seafood Imports Continue to Grow Slightly
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According to data from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) of Singapore, Singapore imported nearly SGD 283.6 million worth of seafood from global partners in the first quarter of 2025 — an increase of 1.1% compared to the same period in 2024.
Singapore’s demand remains balanced across four key seafood categories:
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Fresh/chilled fish excluding fillets and fish meat (HS 0302)
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Frozen fish excluding fillets and fish meat (HS 0303)
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Fish fillets and other fish meat, fresh, chilled or frozen (HS 0304)
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Crustaceans, whether or not processed (HS 0306)
Each category recorded import values of over SGD 50 million during Q1/2025, or roughly SGD 17 million per month.
Among them, crustaceans (HS 0306) were the leading category, reaching SGD 67.2 million, accounting for nearly one-quarter of Singapore’s total seafood imports.
Notably, frozen fish (HS 0303) was the only group that showed positive growth, up 21.4% year-on-year, while the others experienced slight declines of 1–4%, indicating signs of market saturation.
Vietnam Joins Top 4 Seafood Exporters to Singapore
In the first quarter of 2025, Malaysia and Indonesia remained the top two seafood suppliers to Singapore, with import values of SGD 37.4 million and SGD 32.2 million, representing 13.2% and 11.4% market share respectively.
Norway ranked third, supplying SGD 30.4 million worth of seafood (10.7% market share), mainly fresh/chilled fish (HS 0302), maintaining a strong presence in this segment.
For the first time, Vietnam ranked fourth, becoming one of Singapore’s largest seafood suppliers. Vietnamese seafood dominated the fish fillet and frozen/chilled fish meat (HS 0304) category, which accounted for 27.8% of Singapore’s total imports in this group.
In Q1/2025, Vietnam’s exports of fish fillets and frozen/chilled fish meat to Singapore reached SGD 14 million, up 2.5% year-on-year.
Additionally, two other groups recorded significant export values:
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Crustaceans (HS 0306): SGD 5.6 million (8.3% market share)
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Mollusks (HS 0307): SGD 4.9 million (16.5% market share)
Both categories saw positive growth and still have room for further expansion.
Vietnam’s Seafood Exports to Singapore Increase by 19.3%
In total, Vietnam’s seafood exports (HS code 03) to Singapore reached SGD 28.7 million in the first three months of 2025 — up 19.3% year-on-year, accounting for 10.1% of Singapore’s total seafood import value.
Trade Promotion and Market Development Efforts
To support Vietnamese seafood companies seeking to expand market share amid U.S. tariff challenges, the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) held a meeting in early April 2025 to strengthen cooperation.
The two sides agreed to:
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Enhance information exchange and trade connection between Vietnamese and Singaporean enterprises
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Promote participation in seafood trade fairs and exhibitions in Singapore
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Increase the presence of Vietnamese seafood brands in Singapore’s retail and distribution systems
Outlook and Recommendations
The Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore forecasts that Singapore’s seafood import market will remain stablethroughout 2025.
Vietnam is expected to maintain its strong position in the frozen/chilled fish fillet (HS 0304) category. However, for other products such as crustaceans (HS 0306) and mollusks (HS 0307), Vietnamese exporters will face strong competition from Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, and India.
The Trade Office advises Vietnamese exporters to:
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Maintain consistent product quality
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Regularly update Singapore’s import regulations
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Improve packaging and branding
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Enhance productivity and product standards to strengthen competitiveness