Analysts say that the biggest investors from the Philippines, the hottest economy in Asia, have been heading for Vietnam, where they can see great business opportunities in essential sectors, including food and beverage, infrastructure, clean water and pharmaceuticals.
Vinh Hoan Company (VHC), a Vietnamese big seafood exporter, in late May 2014, unexpectedly announced it had transferred 70 percent of the stakes VHC held in Vinh Hoan 1 Feed Company (VHF) to a Filipino company, reaping $19.6 million.
The buyer was Pilmico International, a subsidiary of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, specializing in making animal feed in the Philippines.
Analysts noted that the sale of the fourth largest feed plant in Vietnam with the capacity of 130,000 tons per annum, brought high profits to Vinh Hoan, which built the plant with VND70 billion, or $3.4 million only.
The two sides agreed that the other 30 percent of VHF that VHC is holding will be transferred to Pilmico within five years at negotiable prices.
Prior to that, a Filipino fast food chain, Jollibee, spent $25 million to buy 50 percent of Pho 24, a well-known pho (noodles served with beef or chicken) brand, and a famous café brand, Highlands Coffee.
With the deal, Jollibee became better known to Vietnamese and the brand is mentioned with McDonald’s and KFC when people list the big fast food chains in Vietnam.
Most recently, a large Filipino food group, Universal Robina Corp (URC), has taken big steps in its plan to expand its business plan in Vietnam.
The group announced it will turn Vietnam, with 90 million consumers, into a key market which can bring $1 billion.
URC emerged in the domestic food and beverage (F&B) market recently when it launched C2 bottled green tea, a product considered a direct rival to Tan Hiep Phat, and Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola.
Analysts noted that Filipinos have also been keen on infrastructure projects. In late 2013, Manila Water South Asia Holdings Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of the Filipino Manila Water Company Inc, bought 18.37 million SII’s stakes, a Vietnamese water infrastructure company, worth VND310 billion.
The fact that Manila Water injected money into SII was not a surprise at all. Analysts noted that infrastructure is one of the business fields Filipino investors are most interested in.
Ayala Group, the holding group of Manila Water, is a big infrastructure investor in HCM City which has poured big money into many infrastructure development firms, including CII, where it holds 10 percent of shares, SII (44 percent), Kenh Dong Water Supply Company (47 percent) and 49 percent of Thu Duc Water Supply Company.
Reuters has recently reported that Metro Pacific Investments Corp, another major Filipino infrastructure investor, is considering a transport infrastructure project in Vietnam.
Analysts have noted that the investments by these major companies from the Philippines in Vietnam have been profitable, and have resulted in bigger market share.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
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