“Pangasius fillet is seen to impact substantially in the food sufficiency thrust of the government,” Department of Industry (DTI) Regional Operations and Development Group (RODG) Undersecretary Merly M. Cruz said during this year’s National Pangasius Conference in Antipolo City.
DTI, through RODG, earlier pushed a project on pangasius mainly to address the government’s food security program, and provide livelihood projects.
Pangga (pangasius hypothalamus) was introduced by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Philippines in 1981. It belongs to the catfish family and known commonly then as an aquarium fish, named “hammer head shark”.
“The current focus on the pangasius industry is seen as a strategy for inclusive growth. It is looked at as a cluster-based development aimed at creating sustainable employment in the countryside and contributing to the food security program through micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) development,” Cruz said.
The DTI-RODG piloted its pangasius project in Mindanao, particularly in regions 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The project expanded in regions 3, 4, 5, and 8. As of December 2011, a total of P202.358 million investments were recorded. These investments created 915 jobs in the industry’s hatcheries, nursery ponds, grow-out farms and processing companies.
“Our average monthly imports of pangasius fillet from Vietnam amounts to 600 metric tons valued at US$ 1.650 million,” Cruz said.
The Vietnam’s Mekong River is known for its tra (pangasius hypothalamus) and basa (pangasius bocourti) catfish varieties. These fish varieties were usually processed into fillet, nuggets, patties, steaks and steamed dumplings. These pangasius fillet were sold locally in grocery stores, and supplied in high-end and fast food chain restaurants like McDonalds, Chow King and Kenny Rogers.
“The importation of pangasius fillet from Vietnam increased from 2008 to 2010. It only declined in 2011,” Cruz said.
From 2008 to 2009, the country’s imports of pangasius increased by 69 percent, from 2,751 to 4,652 metric tons. In 2010, this trend continued, pangasius imports grew to 6,689 metric tons or 44 percent growth from the past year.
In 2011, the volume of imported pangasius from Vietnam fell to 4,836 metric tons, or 28 percent decrease from its 2010 level. This decrease can be attributed to the collaborative efforts of the government and the private sector to support the industry and the growing market of pangasius.
“By 2016, our goal is to substitute the country’s imports of Pangasius, which mostly come from Vietnam,” Cruz claimed.
“If the country will be able to substitute its monthly importation of 600 metric tons of pangasius fillet by 2016, two hundred seventy (270) hectares of land will be developed. This is expected to generate in Php650 million investments and Php945 million sales. Two thousand seven hundred (2,700) workers will be employed,” Cruz said.
According to BFAR data, total local production of pangasius grew by an average of 186.74 percent from 2008 to 2010.
“The increase in pangasius production can be attributed to the growing interest of Filipino businessmen to invest in pangasius industry. This reflects that government and private sectors’ efforts have paid off, and we need to sustain this momentum to ensure that the growth achieved will rebound to more growth and more benefits for all,” Cruz said. (PNA)
(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.
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