Vietnam's maritime trade expands as lobster exports to China exceed $500 m and Ho Chi Minh City begins new QTM port

Vietnam's lobster industry is seeing rapid growth in the Chinese market. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters reported that in the first five months of 2026, China imported more than $506 million worth of Vietnamese lobster, a 44.3% increase year‑on‑year, with blue lobster accounting for $503.9 million (99.5% of the total). The surge reflects higher demand for premium live seafood and a shift in supply sources as traditional exporters such as Canada, the United States and Australia face trade constraints.

At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City has launched construction of the QTM International Port. The project, valued at about VND 6.9 trillion, will provide a capacity of roughly 16 million tonnes of cargo per year once fully operational. The first phase (2026‑2029) will include three berthing bridges capable of handling vessels up to 100,000 tonnes, with a second phase expanding the infrastructure to eight bridges by 2033. The port is expected to lower logistics costs, create jobs, and strengthen the city's role in regional supply chains.