How Could Rough Seas Affect Marine Fish Supply?
During the second half of the year, natural marine fish supply can become more sensitive to weather conditions. Rough seas may reduce the number of fishing days and affect the amount of seafood landed at ports.
At the same time, the fishing sector continues to face pressure from fuel and logistics costs. VASEP has reported continued shortages of marine seafood raw materials in 2026, while higher fuel costs can reduce fishing efficiency, affect catch volumes and put pressure on raw material prices.
Therefore, the marine fish price outlook during rough sea conditions should not be based on demand alone. Fishing activity, landing volumes and actual supply availability should also be monitored.
Marine Fish Prices May Move with Supply Conditions
When natural catches decline during extended periods of rough weather, the availability of raw fish for processing may become tighter. If market demand remains stable, raw material prices may face upward pressure.
However, price movements can vary significantly by species. Mackerel, Indian mackerel, snapper, threadfin bream and other marine fish may follow different trends depending on fishing grounds, seasonality and landing volumes.
For this reason, distributors should monitor supply conditions regularly instead of waiting until price changes become significant before adjusting purchasing plans.
How Should Distributors Plan Purchases?
For B2B distributors, the objective is not necessarily to build a very large inventory before the stormy season. A more practical approach is to maintain an appropriate stock level while reducing the risk of supply shortages.
Key considerations include:
- Monitor landing volumes and fishing schedules to identify supply changes early.
- Pre-book part of the required volume for products with stable sales.
- Work with suppliers offering consistent supply and specifications to reduce dependence on short-term fishing conditions.
- Divide purchasing into several batches rather than buying everything at once, helping control working capital and inventory costs.
For seafood distributors, purchasing decisions based on actual supply conditions rather than a single market price can provide greater flexibility as weather conditions become more challenging.
Source: VASEP – Vietnam seafood industry and export updates, 2026.