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.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last 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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