Alaska Pollock accounts for 25 percent in Germany’s fish market. Sales of this whitefish species are increasing as price comes down. Vietnam pangasius is the fifth most consumed fish in Germany. However, the fish is sold at higher price, so German consumers are turning to buy Alaska pollock.
In 2011, German people’s spending for fish was up 0.4 percent; fish prices were also up 3 percent, causing a decrease of 2.5 percent in fish sales. Per capita fish volume is standing at 15 kilogram per person, in which Alaska pollock was the most consumed fish, followed by herrings, salmon (mostly farmed ones), tuna and pangasius. Consumption of most of popular fish like herring, salmon, tuna were sliding due to higher prices. In contrast, pollock got lower price and reached high sales.
Over the past five years, Vietnam pangasius shipment to Germany has remained annual value of over US$65 million. The fish occupied the fifth place in German fish market thank to good flavour, easy recipes and lower prices than other popular fish there.
Different from other importing countries in the South of Europe, German people do not like eating live or fresh fish; therefore, Germany imports only frozen pangasius fillets to supply domestic market rather than to process for re-export.
Pangasius sold in Germany generally weight 120/170 gram, 170/220 gram and 220 gram. Due to the pressure of fish price, local retailers tend to focus on the added value of fish products.
Currently, 84 percent of German households eat fish products. This reflects the trend to consume healthy food and avoid obesity in the country. They also love some imported fish such as pangasius from Vietnam, tilapia from American Latin countries, herring caught at Emden in North Germany and flounder from the Netherlands.
German consumers want both domestic and imported fish with acceptable prices and good quality. They generally buy fish in supermarket chain and local fish markets. Frozen pangasius fillets and herring fillets are well sold in the market because these are easy to cook. Frozen fish are the most traded with 34 percent of market shares; canned and marinated fish represents 26 percent; and 8 percent are fresh fish.
Vietnam saw drop in pangasius export due to its increasing price; while Alaska pollock suppliers pushed down its price, leading to high consumption of Pollock in Germany. However, as the country is still struggling with economic troubles, local consumers should choose products which have the same quality but lower price like pangasius. Though sales of pangasius fell, the fish still keep its position in German market, particularly in the tough economic time in Europe.
(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.
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