In 1997, the country exported only 425 MT of pangasius with a total value of over US$1.65 million. Thus, pangasius exports just accounted for 0.2% of total seafood exports and were equal to 0.6% of total shrimp exports. However, in the first stage, pangasius export price was at the high of US$3.9 – US$4.1/kg. In particular, most exporters focused on the neighboring markets in the region such as China - Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. Nearly 50% of pangasius output was exported to China - Hong Kong.
The next 5 years marked the stepping stone of the pangasius industry. According to a report from some Departments of Agricultural and Rural Development in the Mekong Delta, from 2000 onward, pangaisus farming in the Mekong Delta has started spectacularly with the formation of large concentration farms in An Giang , Dong Thap, Can Tho, Vinh Long ... with a total area of over 5 thousand ha. In 2001, the total output reached over 100 thousand MT; and in 2009 it reached over 1 million MT, earning an export turnover of US$1.4 billion. Thus, from the spontaneous raising of some small farming households and rudimentary production facilities, Vietnamese pangasius began to "grow" into an industrial production.
In 2002, exports marked the "spectacular" development with a sharp rise of 6,580% in the export volume and 5,253% in the export value compared with 1997; the number of markets also increased by three times. In the next four years, from the export volume of thousand MT of pangasius, it had increased to hundreds of thousands of MT of pangasius with the value up to hundreds of millions. However, the average export price of pangasius decreased from US$3.11 - US$3.15 to US$2.5 – US$2.75/kg. During this time, the pangasius export companies focused strongly on the U.S market. In 2001, the production of frozen fish fillets exported to the U.S market increased to nearly 21,000 MT, rising by more than 20 times from the export volume in 1998. The FOB prices ranged from US$1.2 to US$1.5 per pound or VND40,000 to VND50,000 per kilogram.
|
The 10 leading importing markets of Vietnam pangasius in the 10 years (1998-2007) |
||||||||||
|
No. |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
|
1 |
China |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
EU |
EU |
EU |
EU |
|
2 |
U.S |
China |
Japan |
Singapore |
China |
EU |
China |
ASEAN |
Russia |
ASEAN |
|
3 |
Singapore |
Singapore |
Singapore |
Hong Kong |
Singapore |
ASEAN |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
|
4 |
Switzerland |
Switzerland |
Taiwan |
Germany |
Germany |
Australia |
Hong Kong |
Australia |
Hong Kong |
Mexico |
|
5 |
Belgium |
Germany |
Australia |
Canada |
Australia |
Canada |
ASEAN |
Mexico |
Australia |
Ukraine |
|
6 |
Australia |
Belgium |
Hong Kong |
Japan |
Belgium |
Mexico |
Australia |
Canada |
Mexico |
Australia |
|
7 |
Netherlands |
Japan |
Canada |
Netherlands |
Japan |
Japan |
Mexico |
Russia |
Canada |
China-HK |
|
8 |
Sweden |
Taiwan |
- |
Australia |
Canada |
Taiwan |
Canada |
Lithuania |
Ukraine |
UAE |
|
9 |
Japan |
Malaysia |
- |
Malaysia |
Switzerland |
South Korea |
Japan |
UAE |
UAE |
Canada |
|
10 |
Taiwan |
Netherlands |
- |
China |
Malaysia |
Dominica |
Russia |
Taiwan |
Lithuania |
Egypt |
Despite the technical and commercial barriers from markets, Vietnam’s pangasius exports continue to grow. In 2008, for the first time, the export turnover of Vietnam pangasius reached billions of dollars. In this year, Vietnam exported 640.8 thousand MT, worth by US$1.45 billion with the average export price of US$2.27/kg. During this period, Vietnam pangasius continuously faced the anti-dumping tariffs, catfish inspection program (in the U.S); and the media smear campaign in the EU which greatly affected the exports. The average price of pangasius decreased from US$2.75 to US$2.15 – US$2.25/kg. In the next 3 years, the export value of pangasius reached US$1.8 billion in 2011. This was the record exports of Vietnam pangasius in the past 20 years. From 2012 to now, the average export value of pangasius was lower than the peak in 2011 and reached from US$1.56 to US$1.78 billion. After the 20 years of exports, Vietnam pangasius has been growing steadily and gained international stature.
|
The 10 leading importing markets of Vietnam pangasius in the 10 years (2008-2018) |
|||||||||||
|
No |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
3M/2018 |
|
1 |
EU |
EU |
EU |
EU |
EU |
EU |
EU |
U.S |
U.S |
China |
China |
|
2 |
Russia |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
U.S |
EU |
China |
U.S |
U.S |
|
3 |
Ukraine |
ASEAN |
Mexico |
ASEAN |
ASEAN |
ASEAN |
ASEAN |
China |
EU |
EU |
ASEAN |
|
4 |
U.S |
Russia |
Russia |
Mexico |
Mexico |
Brazil |
Brazil |
ASEAN |
ASEAN |
ASEAN |
EU |
|
5 |
Mexico |
Ukraine |
Egypt |
Brazil |
Brazil |
Mexico |
Mexico |
Mexico |
Mexico |
Brazil |
Mexico |
|
6 |
Egypt |
Egypt |
Australia |
Saudi Arabia |
China |
China |
China |
Brazil |
Brazil |
Mexico |
Brazil |
|
7 |
Australia |
Australia |
Saudi Arabia |
China |
Russia |
Colombia |
Colombia |
Saudi Arabia |
Colombia |
Colombia |
Colombia |
|
8 |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
Brazil |
Australia |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
Colombia |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
Saudi Arabia |
|
9 |
UAE |
Canada |
Colombia |
Colombia |
Colombia |
Australia |
Egypt |
Canada |
Canada |
Canada |
UK |
|
10 |
Canada |
UAE |
Ukraine |
Russia |
Australia |
Russia |
Australia |
Egypt |
Australia |
Australia |
Australia |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(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 - 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
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