Pangasius butterfly cut products accounted for only 18% of pangasius imports into China in the first 5 months of 2022, but this year, this figure is up to 31%.
However, the average import price of pangasius butterfly cut products into this market in the first 5 months of 2023 was 19% lower than the same period last year, reaching 1.94USD/kg. Meanwhile, the price of frozen pangasius fillets imported into China was also 15% lower than the same period last year, reaching 2.13 USD/kg.
Large inventories, falling import prices along with a slow recovery in demand are the main factors causing decline in pangasius exports to this market. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, in the first 5 months of 2023, pangasius exports to China decreased by 39% to 217 million USD.
Statistics from China Customs show that in the first 5 months of 2023, China imported nearly 137 thousand tons of pangasius, 16.5% higher than the same period last year
Localities that import the most frozen pangasius fillets include Guangdong, Shandong, Tianjin, Beijing, Shanghai, and Zhanjiang, accounting for 86% of China's import volume. Guangdong province alone accounts for 35%, while Shandong accounts for 15%. Localities that mostly import pangasius butterfly cuts are Guangdong (accounting for 52%), Shandong (15%), Shanghai (14%), and Hunan (8%). In May 2023, pangasius imports into China reached 24.6 thousand tons, worth nearly 50 million USD, which is a decrease of 27% and 41% respectively compared to the same period last year.
Three years of implementing coronavirus control measures have severely weakened the spending power of many Chinese households. Economic uncertainty has hit China's urban middle class amid falling wages and job cuts in sectors ranging from technology to financial services. The unemployment caused by these circumstances has affected spending by young people, who constitute China's most active consumer demographic, resulting in a 20% unemployment rate within this group.
In this context, the Chinese market will need more time to recover, opening new and brighter opportunities for imported products, including seafood and pangasius. Nevertheless, import demand in this market is expected to improve in the second half of the year as consumers will gradually adapt to the new post-Covid context.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
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(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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