Compared to April 2021, pangasius exports more than doubled with a turnover of USD 297 million. As a result, in the first four months of the year, the pangasius industry earned over USD 950 million, up 94%. The main driver still lies in the two markets of China and the US, accounting for 32% and 24.5% of the turnover respectively. Both markets recorded triple-digit growth in the first 4 months of this year: China grew 161% to USD 306 million, and the US grew 128% to more than $232 million.
Shrimp exports still maintained a high growth rate of 35% in April reaching USD 406 million, bringing shrimp turnover in the first 4 months of this year to 1.36 billion USD, up 41.5% over the same period in 2021.
Vietnamese shrimp and pangasius export value grew strongly thanks to high demand and good export prices. After 2 years of restraint because of the Covid epidemic, the demand in the markets recovered and boomed, while the supply in the markets was not enough, and price inflation increased. The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine makes the global seafood supply more unstable, especially white fish products. Vietnamese seafood enterprises have seized golden opportunities to increase exports and close contracts with much higher prices than in 2021.
In the US market, exports of shrimp, pangasius, and other key products all recorded high growth compared to the previous year, especially pangasius. US catfish production decreased, inflation was high, anti-dumping tax in the period POR17 benefited many pangasius enterprises, the number of pangasius enterprises allowed to export to the US increased, and the average export price of pangasius to the US peaked... Those are the 5 main factors that make pangasius exports to the US in the first 4 months of this year expand dramatically.
Total seafood exports to the US in April increased by about 79% to over USD 266 million. By the end of April, seafood exports to the US reached USD 842 million, up 74% over the same period in 2021.
The strong outbreak of Covid and China's zero Covid policy caused seafood exports to this market to encounter many bottlenecks when many import ports were closed and Covid testing on frozen goods became increasingly strict. However, because many factories in China were closed and production was delayed, there was also a shortage of seafood supply for domestic consumption and export processing in this market. Therefore, the increasing demand for seafood imports from China is attracting more Vietnamese enterprises to export here despite the above challenges.
Seafood exports to China in April more than doubled to USD 216 million. Seafood export to this market accumulated to the end of April 2022 is estimated at 578 million USD, up 94% over the same period last year. Pangasius alone accounts for 53% of seafood exports to this market.
Exports to the EU, Japan, South Korea, and many other markets all recorded double-digit growth in the first 4 months of the year. However, the US and China will continue to occupy the main weight, determining the growth rate of Vietnam's seafood exports in the coming months. It is forecasted that seafood exports in the second quarter will reach $2.8-3 billion, up about 36-38% over the same period in 2021.
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Compiled by Minh Trang
(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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