However, Vietnamese pangasius sales to Mexico are downing. In September, exports decreased by 37 percent to US$4.8 million. This was the second consecutive month reporting drop in value.
Some exporters said that Mexican pagasius imports downed because there were much more domestic-farmed tilapia in this market. Moreover, prices for domestic and imported tilapia products were stable, so local consumers were turning to eat this kind of fish.
Importing tilapia products into the market has increased since May 2013. In the first months of the year, Mexico just purchased a much lower volume of tilapia compared to that of pangasius. However, purchases of these two kinds of fishes were nearly the same since May.
With total of US$78.7 million, China remained the leading supplier of frozen fish fillets of Mexico in terms of value through July 2013, followed by Vietnam with US$69.4 million.
Generally, Mexican consumers like eating more frozen fish than fresh and canned products. So far, per-capita seafood consumption of the country was 9 kilogram per year. Mexico’s governement took measures to enhance per-capita consumption in the next ten years. Currently, the country reports an annual fishery production of 1.7 million MT; 85 percent of which was wild-caught fishes, the rest is aquacultural species. Shrimp, tilapia, tuna are the main wild-caught and farmed species. Tilapia and catfish are also increasingly grown in some states of Mexico.
Mexico plans to undertake a pilot farming program with pangasius seeds from Vietnam, as well as conduct research to assess eventual environmental impacts of pangasius aquaculture on surrounding areas and communities.
Despite downing pangasius exports to Mexico in the last two months, this country has still been a steady market for Vietnamese pangasius with higher exported price compared to those offered by other importers, Vietnamese companies said.
|
Mexican imports of frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304) in 2013, US$ thousand |
||||||||
|
Origin |
January |
February |
March |
April |
May |
June |
July |
Jan - Jul |
|
China |
11,564 |
10,826 |
3,665 |
7,601 |
12,997 |
14,506 |
17,559 |
78,718 |
|
Vietnam |
12,450 |
12,514 |
9,582 |
7,721 |
8,120 |
8,667 |
10,355 |
69,409 |
|
Chile |
3,530 |
5,020 |
3,998 |
2,338 |
6,199 |
5,419 |
6,753 |
33,257 |
|
Indonesia |
14 |
478 |
238 |
464 |
680 |
282 |
790 |
2,946 |
|
Nicaragua |
152 |
164 |
29 |
64 |
48 |
54 |
244 |
755 |
|
Peru |
0 |
202 |
96 |
0 |
100 |
17 |
220 |
635 |
|
The U.S. |
177 |
129 |
342 |
149 |
166 |
197 |
200 |
1,360 |
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
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