As of mid-February 2023, Vietnam pangasius exports to the UK market reached nearly 7 million USD, accounting for 4.5% of export value to markets. Particularly in the first half of February, pangasius exports to the UK increased dramatically by 142% over the same period.
In 2022, the UK is also in the top 6 importing pangasius markets of Vietnam, but only accounts for 2.6% with nearly 64 million USD, up 24% compared to 2021.
The UK has one of the highest inflation rates among major economies. By January 2023, the inflation rate in this country was still 10.1%, 5 times higher than the target set by the Bank of England.
Inflation changes UK seafood consumption trends.
Inflation changes UK seafood consumption trends. Instead of consuming more fresh/chilled seafood, today Britons are increasing their consumption of frozen seafood. In the UK, people between the ages of 50 and 75 consume the most fish, spending up to £4 a week on fish products. Meanwhile, people under 30 spend an average of just £1.9 a week on fish.
Particularly white fish is a popular product in the UK, in which the most used for the popular dish is fish & chip. Each year, imports of white fish into this market reach from $800 million to $1 billion. In 2022, imports of white fish into the UK market decreased by nearly 8%, of which the largest decrease was pollock with a decrease of 43%, cod with a decrease of 13%. Economic downturn and the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine have affected the consumption and imports.
Over the past year, Vietnam's pangasius accounted for 5% of the UK's total imports of white fish. This proportion is likely to be higher in 2023, when the UK economy is still heavily affected by inflation, the war between Russia and Ukraine still limits the supply of cod and pollock to this market. Fish & chip dishes may have to use more pangasius and other white fish as alternatives.
The advantage from preferential tariffs under the UKVFTA is also an opportunity for businesses to take advantage of, especially in the context that importers want to find sources of competitive priced goods for the domestic market.
Therefore, along with China, the UK is also an optimistic destination for pangasius enterprises in 2023.
|
UK imports of white fish, 2018-2022 (Thousand USD) |
|||||||
|
Product |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Change(%) |
Proportion(%) |
|
Cod |
520,941 |
549,580 |
665,281 |
615,899 |
535,731 |
-13.0% |
57% |
|
Haddock |
166,985 |
211,744 |
228,877 |
204,648 |
261,883 |
28.0% |
28% |
|
Pollock |
73,090 |
90,046 |
111,500 |
115,865 |
66,094 |
-43.0% |
7% |
|
Pangasius, catfish |
54,555 |
49,716 |
61,772 |
54,052 |
50,330 |
-6.9% |
5% |
|
Tilapia |
8,685 |
7,256 |
9,558 |
11,854 |
11,278 |
-4.9% |
1% |
|
Hake |
10,392 |
10,574 |
10,371 |
8,397 |
6,958 |
-17.1% |
1% |
|
Total |
834,822 |
918,918 |
1,087,365 |
1,010,716 |
932,275 |
-7.8% |
100%
|
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn