(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 5 months of 2019, pangasius exports to ASEAN market reached US$87.3 million, up 14.6% over the same period in 2018. According to many businesses, ASEAN is a market that needs to be paid attention in the coming time.
Thailand: This is the largest importer of Vietnam pangasius in ASEAN. The growth in export value to this market in the first half of 2019 was quite good. Particularly in May, 2019, pangasius export value to Thailand reached US$6.5 million, up 35.5% over the same period in 2018. By the end of May 2019, the export value reached US$32.5 million, an increase of 9.2% compared to same period in 2018. During the period, white fish imports of Thailand kept at a good growth rate and be positive, in which the value of imported pangasius accounted for the highest propotion, from 40-90% of the total value of imported white fish of Thailand. In the first half of 2019, seafood import of Thailand continued to increase strongly, in which, white fish imports accounted for an increasing proportion in the structure of frozen seafood imports of this country.
Philippines: The Philippines is an emerging market in ASEAN for the past two years 2018-2019 when the export value has grown positively for many months. By the end of May 2019, the total export value of pangasius to this market reached US$19 million, up 25% compared to the same period in 2018. Currently, Vietnam is the largest supplier and is the only market for white fish, including pangasius for the Philippines. Because the Philippines's natural conditions are less favorable than other countries in the region, they, therefore, has to import more farmed seafood in recent years. In 2018, for the first time, Vietnam organized the Vietnam Rice and Pangasius Promotion Festival in the Philippines. Through this festival, there are many consumers and businesses of this country know about Vietnam's key agricultural products such as pangasius.
Malaysia: As of the end of May, 2019, export value of pangasius to Malaysia reached US$18.8, up 47.3% over the same period in 2018. This is also a market that is expected to prospect in the future. Yet, this is also a specific market with high proportion of Islam followers. Having said that, compared to the Philippines, Malaysia is a more diverse and open market with white fish products. Apart from Vietnam, Malaysia also imported white fish from China, America, the UK, France ... However, Vietnam is still the largest supplier of white fish, including pangasius. Therefore, in the coming time, there are many opportunities for Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to increase their export proportion in this market.