VINAGRI News - The United States is rapidly becoming the dominant market for Vietnamese blue crab, with exports surging 74% year on year to US$36 million in the first half of 2026. The US accounted for 82% of Vietnam's total crab export value, as stricter sourcing and import requirements reshaped the competitive landscape.
Summary:
> Vietnamese crab exports to the US rose 74% year on year to US$36 million in H1 2026.
> The US accounted for 82% of Vietnam's total crab export value, making it by far the country's largest market.
> The US allowed crab imports from Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, while banning imports from the Philippines under revised MMPA compliance rules.
> Vietnam's total crab exports reached US$43 million, up 56% year on year, making crab one of the fastest-growing products in the country's crab, crustacean and other shellfish segment.
Vietnamese blue crab gains strong demand in the US
The United States is increasingly becoming the dominant market for Vietnamese crab, with export value surging 74% in the first half of 2026.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam's crab exports to the US reached US$36 million during the first six months of the year, up 74% from the same period in 2025.
The US share of Vietnam's total crab export value also continued to increase, reaching 82%.
VASEP said the figures show that the US is not only increasing its purchases of Vietnamese crab but is also becoming increasingly dominant in the country's overall export structure.
Vietnam is already one of the major crab suppliers to the US. According to data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Vietnam supplied 4,143 metric tons of crab to the US in 2025, ranking behind Indonesia at 14,290 tons but ahead of the Philippines at 2,417 tons and Sri Lanka at 820 tons.
US orders accelerate from Q2
Vietnamese crab exports to the US gained momentum in the second quarter of 2026, with orders increasing noticeably after May.
The stronger demand came as the US market placed greater emphasis on products with clear traceability, consistent supply and compliance with new import standards.
In May, the US National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) reviewed its determination regarding crab compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
Following the review, the US decided to prohibit imports of crab products from the Philippines while allowing imports from Vietnam, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
The regulatory change has strengthened Vietnam's position in the US market, providing Vietnamese exporters with greater opportunities to expand shipments as buyers seek suppliers that meet the revised import requirements.
Vietnamese crab exports rise 56% overall
Across all markets, Vietnam's crab exports totaled US$43 million in the first half of 2026, up 56% year on year.
Export value increased consistently from month to month during the period, indicating accelerating demand for Vietnamese crab products.
VASEP described crab as currently one of the fastest-growing products within Vietnam's broader crab, crustacean and other shellfish export category.
The sharp increase in US demand, combined with Vietnam's position among the major suppliers that remain eligible to access the US market, is creating favorable conditions for further growth in Vietnamese crab exports during the second half of 2026.
NPK/ Vinagri News
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