From 2020 to now, China has maintained its position as the No. 1 pangasius import market of Vietnam, surpassing the US market. Compared to the Vietnamese pangasius import markets, China has always maintained the highest growth rate, with sales increasing by more than 2 times over the same period last year. It is estimated that in October, pangasius exports to this market reached about 64.2 million USD, an increase of 105% compared to the same period in 2021. In which, the export of frozen pangasius fillets/portion to this market accounted for 75% with over 48 million USD. Whole fresh/frozen pangasius accounted for over 24%, reaching nearly 16 million USD.
By the end of October, the export of frozen pangasius fillets to China reached over USD 489 million, up 115%, the export of fresh/frozen pangasius HS code 0303 reached over USD 163 million. Estimated volume of frozen pangasius fillets exported to China by the end of October was about 215 thousand tons.
The average price of frozen pangasius fillets (HS code 030462) exported to the Chinese market in the first 9 months of 2022 reached US$2.28/kg. In which, the average export price in September reached the highest level since the beginning of the year, with 2.73 USD/kg. Market demand increased in the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter to serve orders and consumption during the Lunar New Year and year-end festivals while the supply of raw materials decreased, causing the export price to increase higher in this period.
China has supassed the US to be the No1 destination for Vietnamese pangasius exports
In the first 9 months of 2022, Vietnam had more than 400 enterprises exporting pangasius to the Chinese market. The leading enterprises in this market include Vinh Hoan Corp, accounting for over 16% of pangasius turnover to China, Bien Dong Seafood accounting for nearly 6%, Van Duc Tien Giang Food, Navico and I.D.I Corp both accounted for 5%. Enterprises that are also in the top 10 pangasius exporters to the Chinese market include DATHACO, GODACO Seafood, TG FISHERY, Cadovimex II and Ntsf Seafoods.
China's zero Covid policies have affected the country's economic industries, including the seafood industry. Fishing and aquaculture volume have been reduced because of the country's Covid control regulations. Therefore, China has to increase imports from other countries to make up for the shortfall in output for domestic consumption and for the export processing sector.
The Covid pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict have caused rising sea freight rates and inflation, creating challenges for Chinese seafood importers and exporters. Therefore, with an advantage in geographical position, Vietnamese seafood will be the preferred choice of these mainland importers, especially pangasius products.
Recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced that he will not immediately ease the zero-COVID policy, so the Chinese international trade will certainly not be able to recover as before the pandemic.
However, the regulation of Covid testing in imported goods has also been relaxed from July 2022, which means that exporters will not be suspended from exporting if there are traces of corona virus on imported products or product packaging. Therefore, Vietnamese seafood exporters still have opportunities to promote exports to the Chinese market. China will continue to be the main and potential market for Vietnamese pangasius products this year and next.
|
Top 10 Vietnamese pangasius exporters to China (Jan-Sep/2022) |
|
|
Company |
Proportion (%) |
|
Vinh Hoan Corporation |
16.2 |
|
BIEN DONG SEAFOOD |
5.8 |
|
VDTG FOOD |
5.0 |
|
NAVICO |
5.0 |
|
I.D.I CORPORATION |
5.0 |
|
DATHACO |
3.4 |
|
GODACO SEAFOODS |
3.1 |
|
TG FISHERY |
3.0 |
|
Cadovimex II |
2.9 |
|
NTSF SEAFOOD |
2.6 |
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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