In the first half of 2025, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports to Thailand recorded remarkable progress with a turnover of 33 million USD, an increase of 37% compared to the same period in 2024.
According to data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports to Thailand in the first half of 2025 reached 33 million USD, an increase of 37% compared to the same period in 2024. Thailand is currently the fourth largest single import market, accounting for 10% of the total export value of squid and octopus nationwide.
The exports in the first two quarters of this year show continuous growth. The quarterly export value has consistently increased by double digits, reflecting stable demand and an expanding market from Thailand. Export items recorded a significant breakthrough, especially live/fresh/frozen squid and processed octopus.
Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports to Thailand recorded remarkable progress.
In the export structure, squid continues to be the main product with a turnover of 32.5 million USD, accounting for 98.4% of the total turnover, an increase of 35.6%. Notably, dried and grilled squid products (including instant dried squid) reached 30.24 million USD, an increase of nearly 30%. This species is a favored product group in the Thai market due to their convenience and alignment with consumer preferences.
A notable highlight is live, fresh, and frozen squid with a turnover of 2.276 million USD, a sharp increase of 254%. This shows that the demand for imported raw materials for processing and fresh consumption in Thailand is increasing significantly. It is a signal that Vietnam is gradually expanding its product range and meeting the diverse needs of this market.
Although it only accounts for a small proportion of the total export value, octopus exports from Vietnam to Thailand still had impressive growth, with 0.513 million USD, an increase of 149.9%. Processed octopus has increased strongly with a growth rate of up to 250.9%, reflecting the increasing demand for ready-to-eat products and high value-added items.
Dried, salted, live, fresh, or frozen octopus also showed positive signals with a growth rate of 43.4%. This is the basis for Vietnamese seafood companies to consider investing in and expanding their octopus product lines in the near future, especially high-value processed products.
Thailand is a market with a high demand for seafood, especially in the squid and octopus category. With the advantage of low technical barriers, this market is considered one of the favorable destinations for Vietnamese seafood products. Thai consumers have tastes that are close to Vietnam, particularly favoring products such as dried and fresh squid and processed octopus—items in which Vietnam has strengths.
However, competition in Thailand is gradually increasing as the country diversifies supplies, especially from countries like China, Argentina, and India, where product costs are lower. This forces Vietnamese businesses to continuously improve product quality while optimizing production and logistics costs to maintain their advantage.