According to Vietnam Customs Department data, Vietnamese seafood exports to Canada reached US$196.77 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 11.9% year on year. For buyers, importers, and retailers, the message is clear: demand for Vietnamese products is on the rise, and it is broadening well beyond the traditional favorites. Canada is a market that rewards quality, consistency, and traceability, and Vietnamese seafood is delivering on all three.

80% Of The Seafood Consumed In Canada Is Imported

Canadian consumers eat a lot of seafood. Roughly 90% of Canadians include it in their diet, and around 35-40% eat it at least once a week. Yet about 80% of the seafood consumed in Canada is imported, which leaves lasting room for reliable overseas suppliers.

The overall market has been cooling slightly. Canada’s total seafood imports in the first seven months of 2026 came to 209,900 tonnes (US$1.78 billion), down 7.3% in volume. Even so, Vietnam still supplies about 11% of Canada’s import volume and 8.6% of its value. Many Vietnamese seafood lines also enter Canada at 0% duty, or are on a path to deep reductions, which helps them stay competitive. At the same time, Canada has strict import rules, so buyers need suppliers they can trust.

The Core Range: Shrimp and Pangasius

Frozen shrimp and frozen pangasius remain the backbone of the trade, together making up about 70% of Vietnam’s seafood exports to Canada by volume and 71% by value (January – July 2026).

• Frozen shrimp: value up 3.9%, a steady performer for foodservice and retail.
• Frozen pangasius: volume up 3.4% and value up 7.3%, a mild, versatile white fish that suits Canadian demand for affordable, easy-to-cook protein. 

Pangasius Frozen Fillet Well Trimmed, EU treated of Mekong Seafood Connection

The more exciting story is the diversification. Several value-added and specialty categories posted strong gains in the first seven months of the year: 

The Canadian are looking for convenient, ready-to-use, and premium-positioned seafood alongside the staples. Canned tuna and fish cake fit the demand for shelf-stable and prepared foods, while cod, flounder, squid, and crab let retailers widen their frozen-seafood range.

What This Means for Canadian Buyers?
Growing demand also brings pressure. Buyers who plan ahead can avoid three common problems:

• Supply gaps when demand rises quickly
• Quality is inconsistent from one shipment to the next
• Delays caused by missing documents or labeling mistakes

>> Working with a supplier who already has the products, the factories, and the paperwork in place helps you avoid all three. That is where a dependable supplier like Meksea makes the difference.

What Meksea Can Supply?

We have exported Vietnamese seafood since 2010, to more than 120 global markets including Canada. Our range for Canadian buyers includes:

• Shrimp: Black Tiger and Vannamei
• Pangasius
• Squid, cuttlefish, and octopus
• Tuna and other pelagic fish
• Value-added products
• Click to Explore more

Flexible Orders, Controlled Quality – With about 150 partner factories, you can mix several products in one container instead of filling a container with a single item. Our QC team follows each order through production, and we always prepare exactly documentation and labeling that Canadian import rules require, including CFIA requirements. Full traceability from farm to container is available on request.