After a year of public comment period, the draft Decree was submitted to the government on October 14th, 2013. However, there were some issues in this decree cannot bring a leverage to drive Vietnam pangasius industry towards a sustainable development, according to VASEP.
On November 18th, 2013, the Association sent the Prime Minister the Official Letter No.248 on a petition regarding its three recommendations on the decree as the follows:
Pangasius production and exports
Among 236 pangasius exporters in Vietnam, there are currently about 94 companies owning processing plants, but they contributed 90 percent to national pangasius export value. Export companies without processing plants accounted for only 10 percent in value.
These players are purchasing low quality fish to process products and sell them at low price to compete with other suppliers. This leads to negative impacts to the whole pangasiu industry, especially to the image and price of the fish in the global market.
To solve this problem, according to VASEP, only pangasius companies with their own processing plants, which meet regulations on food safety and traceability, are eligible to sell products to foreign markets. The solution is believed to maintain the supply-demand balance as well as efficiency management of pangasius production and exports.
Regulations on water content and glazing in exported pangasius
Currently, Vietnam provides various kinds of pangasius products from frozen fillets to value-added items. However, fish fillets made up of over 90 percent in exports to key markets. Therefore, a set of general quality standards is needed to protect the prestige and image of pangasius fillets in the global market, as well as contribute to preventing over glazing in exported fish.
VASEP required the Prime Minister to assign a ministry to be responsible for setting up the standars and monitoring the implementation of these compulsory standards on product quality in the nationwide.
Regulation on the role of the Association in management of pangasius processors and exporters
In its third recommendation, VASEP requested the Prime Minister to direct the MARD and Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) to reconsider and regulate the Association’s essential roles in monitoring their members’ implementation of regulations relating to pangasius production, export and markets in the Decree.
VASEP was an association for seafood production and export, which has 15 years in supporting seafood companies in the development and maintaining export markets, improving production and global integration capacity and combating against international trade barriers.
VASEP’s members are leading pangasius producers, processors and exporters, which consist of key driven to lead the fish industry towards a sustainable development. These companies have been actively providing more than 60 percent of their needs of raw fish for processing and contributing over 80 percent to national pangasius export value. Many of them are focusing on investments in a closed pangasius value chain, which is seen as the base of a comprehensive pangasius quality and export governance.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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