Latest data from International Trade Centre (ITC) showed that in the first 6 months of 2014, Canada imported 4,306 MT of frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam, up 25.79% year on year.
Reportedly, in 1H 2014, 42 thousand MT of frozen fish fillets (code HS0304) were imported in Canada, up 5.5% year on year. Particularly, 15,800 MT was from China, another 6,293 MT was from Chile and 6,204 MT was from Vietnam. China was the top exporter of frozen fish fillets (HS0304 code) to Canada but had the lowest growth rate at 4.7%. Chile had the highest growth rate of 27.67%, followed by Vietnam with 10.98%.
According to some Vietnam seafood enterprises, many other seafood products also have export potentials to this market. With imports reaching US$ 500 billion annually, Canada is an attractive and competitive market.
“Seafood, cashew nuts, coffee, shoes, bags, umbrellas, furniture, spare parts are main export products from Vietnam while imports are mainly machinery, equipment and tools. Since this is a fiercely competitive market, exporters should note that importers can easily find a substitute. Any single mistake can lead to failure.”, said Mr. David Devine, Canadian Ambassador in Vietnam, at the seminar "Exports to Canada " held by Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Canadian Trade Agency and Embassy of Canada in Vietnam on 14th October 2014.
Building customer trust is considered crucial, starting from a customer-oriented website, available contacts and products with proper designs and on time deliveries. Precise information and follow-ups, traceability and transparency in production process are all needed for businesses to success in exporting to Canada.
To achieve goals for bilateral trades, state agencies such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, VCCI and relevant associations should enhance their trade promotion activities. Exchange visits between the two countries to establish business relationships are also needed.
|
Imports of Vietnam pangasius fillets and frozen catfish to Canada (Unit: kg) |
||||||
|
Source |
Q1/2013 |
Q2/2013 |
Q3/2013 |
Q4/2013 |
Q1/2014 |
Q2/2014 |
|
Vietnam |
1,533,054 |
1,827,154 |
2,261,123 |
2,977,645 |
1,825,274 |
2,397,993 |
|
US |
32,370 |
24,104 |
23,993 |
30,456 |
11,706 |
394,86 |
|
China |
0 |
7,300 |
25,310 |
0 |
5,527 |
12,000 |
|
Guyana |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hong Kong |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
12,000 |
0 |
|
Myanmar |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2,222 |
0 |
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
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(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
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(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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