(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a gloomy year in 2023, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the European Union (EU) have shown positive signals in the first four months of 2025. According to data from Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to the EU reached $61 million during this period, up 9% year-on-year. Although growth has largely stemmed from a few individual markets, this is still an encouraging sign, especially when many EU countries continue to report declining import demand.
Netherlands – a leading growth driver
The Netherlands led the EU bloc in terms of import value of Vietnamese pangasius, with over $17 million in the first four months of 2025, up 15% from the same period in 2024. Specifically in April, pangasius exports to this market surged by 26%, reaching over $5 million, indicating a clear rebound in demand. The Netherlands has long served as a gateway for seafood transshipment into the EU, particularly for frozen products and pre-packaged pangasius fillets.
This surge in orders from the Netherlands can be attributed to two factors: first, inventory levels at European distributors dropped after the winter season, leading to a resumption of import demand; second, pangasius prices are currently competitive and align with EU consumers’ cost-saving consumption trends amid ongoing economic uncertainties.
As the largest seafood distribution and logistics hub in the EU, the Dutch market continues to play a strategic role in the pangasius export value chain. Many Vietnamese exporters are focusing on improving product quality, especially for marinated, portioned, and tray-packed pangasius products to cater to the convenience food segment—expected to drive further recovery in the third quarter.
Germany – slight decline but maintains strategic importance
Following the Netherlands, Germany ranks as the second-largest importer of Vietnamese pangasius in the EU bloc. However, according to Vietnam Customs, export value to this market reached just under $2 million in April 2025, down 58% year-on-year. Cumulative exports for the first four months amounted to $11 million, representing a 12% drop from the same period in 2024.
Germany has stringent requirements for traceability, product quality, and environmental certifications—standards that Vietnamese exporters are increasingly committed to meeting.
Nevertheless, consumption of whitefish in Germany remains affected by food inflation and a shift towards local species such as salmon and cod, especially as pangasius is no longer as price-attractive as it was before the pandemic. This signals the need to restructure the market segment and focus on higher value-added products for this market.
Spain – slowing growth momentum
Spain ranks third in the EU for Vietnamese pangasius consumption, with over $6.8 million in exports during the first four months of 2025, down slightly by 5%. As one of Europe’s top seafood-consuming countries, Spain was previously a high-growth market for Vietnamese pangasius. However, 2025 trends suggest a shift in consumer preferences and growing demand for localized products, making it harder for pangasius to maintain its previous growth momentum despite its price competitiveness.
This market has a particular preference for marinated frozen fillets. Vietnamese exporters can tap into the restaurant–hotel segment or retail chains in tourist cities to boost sales during the upcoming summer season.
Belgium – growth resumes after slow period
As of the end of April 2025, pangasius exports to Belgium totaled over $6 million, up 10% year-on-year. This is a notable result amid sluggish or declining demand in many other EU markets. Although April alone saw a 12% dip, this appears to be a short-term adjustment possibly due to technical factors such as changes in order cycles or high Q1 arrivals leading to temporary inventory clearance delays.
As a major logistics hub in Western Europe, Belgium serves both as a consumption market and a transshipment point for pangasius to neighboring countries such as Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany. Belgium plays a similar dual role as the Netherlands in both final consumption and regional redistribution. This year, many Belgian importers are increasing orders of value-added pangasius products, especially breaded and portioned fillets for foodservice and retail channels.
Italy – a new growth bright spot
In April 2025, pangasius exports to Italy rose sharply by 51% year-on-year, although the absolute value remains modest at just over $1.4 million. This recovery trend has been sustained since the beginning of the year, with a cumulative 4-month growth of 71%, totaling over $5 million—surpassing even traditional large markets such as France, Spain, or Germany.
This strong growth is supported by multiple factors. On one hand, the high cost of living in Italy has led middle-income consumers to opt for affordable yet quality food options, with pangasius being a suitable choice. On the other hand, several Italian retailers and restaurants are increasingly prioritizing sustainably sourced and traceable products—criteria that Vietnamese pangasius can meet through certifications such as ASC or Global GAP—thus opening up wider consumption opportunities.
France, Portugal, and Greece – stable and promissing markets
By the end of April 2025, pangasius exports to France reached $3 million (up 32%), Portugal over $2 million (up 33%), and Greece nearly $2 million (up 19%). Notably, France is increasing its imports of portioned fillets and steamed frozen pangasius—products that align with growing health-conscious and convenience-focused trends among younger consumers.
Other markets
Elsewhere in the EU bloc, exports to Hungary grew 37%, while Romania, Slovenia, and Croatia saw respective declines of 21%, 40%, and 29%. Bulgaria stands out with a remarkable 620% surge, albeit from a small base. These shifts reflect a gradually more diversified export landscape, moving away from concentration and toward market dispersion—an essential strategy for long-term sustainability.
Outlook for the second quarter and full Year 2025: Momentum Continues, Breakthroughs Needed
With promising results in the first four months, pangasius exports to the EU in the second quarter 2025 are expected to maintain double-digit growth, especially as raw material prices in Vietnam remain stable, logistics costs show little fluctuation, and EU consumer sentiment is gradually improving after a turbulent 2023.
If quarterly growth remains steady at 8–12%, total export turnover to the EU could reach or exceed $180–190 million for 2025—a positive rebound from the 2023 low.
However, to achieve this goal, the pangasius industry must continue diversifying its product offerings, increase value-added processing, and most importantly, maintain consistent quality—a key factor in retaining the trust of demanding EU importers.