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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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