(vasep.com.vn) Never has the area of aquaculture in Soc Trang risen as sharply as this year. Reports from People's Committee of Soc Trang reveals that total aquaculture farming area in the province in 2014 was approximately 60,000 hectares, of which brackish water shrimp accounted for over 42,000 hectares.

(vasep.com.vn) Many pangasius enterprises are investing in processing to create products with higher values such as cooking oil, collagen and gelatin to expand the market and reduce dependence on exports.

(vasep.com.vn) On 8th October, Provincial Fisheries Department implemented the training and consultancy plan for Vietnam’s good aquaculture practices (VietGAP). The aim was to certify 2 pangasius farms with total farming area of ​​9 hectares. Annual production of each farm was 1,500 MT and 500 MT.

VASEP Training and Trade Promotion Center (VASEP.PRO) intend to conduct two training courses in sensory evaluation for the two main export seafood subjects including shrimp and pangasius with the teaching and practice guidance of Mr. James Barnett, a leading sensory expert of the United States and a former senior official of the U.S. FDA

(vasep.com.vn) In Canada, among white fish products, Vietnam's pangasius fillet is the most imported and consumed, followed by haddock and cod. Export price of frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam increased year on year. According to Vietnam General Customs, yearly accumulated pangasius exports to Canada as of 15th September 2014 was US$ 28.9 million, up 4.5% year on year.

(vasep.com.vn) According to Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Dong Thap, the province made a plan, in which farms for pangasius in 2015 would be 1,500 hectares with production of 370,000 MT and in 2020, the farming area would be 2,000 hectares with production of 500,000 MT.

(vasep.com.vn) Refinery of Sao Mai Group in An Giang province is the world’s first producer of fish oil made from pangasius.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2013, Brazil appeared in top 10 largest import markets for Vietnam seafood. In the total value of US$ 123 million, pangasius made up US$ 122 million, accounted for 99%. While exports to major markets, namely EU, USA and Japan were on downward trends, Brazil became an increasingly important market for Vietnam seafood export products, especially frozen fish fillets.

(vasep.com.vn) Pan Pacific Corporation (HOSE code: PAN) announced its Administrative Council’s resolution to publicly purchase shares of Ben Tre Aquaproduct Im-Ex Joint Stock Company (Aquatex Bentre - HOSE code: ABT).

Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) is considering setting a floor export price for pangasius.

Members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are once again taking aim at a catfish inspection program decried as wasteful by a number of seafood and agricultural industry groups, budget watchdogs and Washington, D.C., politicians.

It might be receiving a battering elsewhere, but pangasius has a pretty strong safety net if it has lodged itself in the INR 75,000 crore (€10.6 billion/$13.8 billion) Indian food services industry, which is expected to reach INR 1,37,000 crore (€19.4 billion/$25.3 billion) by 2015.

(vasep.com.vn) Hung Vuong Corporation (Hung Vuong Corp) claimed their investment of US$ 30 million to build a seafood processing plant and cold storage in Russia. The plant construction will start in 2015.

(vasep.com.vn) Hung Hau Corporation announced to purchase shares of Seafood Joint Stock Company No.1 (Seajoco Vietnam – HOSE code: SJ1). The public offer of Hung Hau will be considered in Seajoco Vietnam’s 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders in the middle of April.

Vietnamese pangasius processors in the Mekong Delta are failing to meet exports orders due to a decline in production as farmers struggle to operate under high production costs and low prices.