Amidst a highly optimistic outlook for Vietnam's seafood export market, with increased demand from the US, China, the Middle East, and ASEAN, along with recent surges in imports from the UK, Brazil, and Thailand to cater to the year-end shopping season, Vietnamese pangasius exporters are seizing new opportunities.
International Development and Investment Corporation (IDI), a key member of the Sao Mai Group, has consistently ranked among the top largest seafood producers and exporters in Vietnam. In 2024, the company was one of the six Vietnamese pangasius exporters to benefit from the low anti-dumping duty (POR19) announced by the US Department of Commerce. This preferential tariff policy has opened up significant export market opportunities for IDI in the US.
Previously, in July 2024, IDI signed a strategic partnership agreement to develop the US and South American markets with PATAGONIA CUISINE LLC - ATLANTA, Georgia. The two companies have joined forces to successfully build the "IDI brand" and strengthen the foundation for sustainable development.
After a period of being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, IDI has made a strong comeback, demonstrating its resilience and bold post-pandemic strategies. The company's 2024 customer conference, held from November 1st to 4th, marked a significant milestone as the company shifted from a preparatory phase to a sprint.
With an annual production capacity of approximately 100,000 tons of raw fish, IDI achieved nearly 90% of its raw material production plan in the first 10 months of 2024, of which 80% was sourced from linked farming areas. This demonstrates the stability of this model over the years, enabling IDI to have full control over pricing and market exploitation in all circumstances.
With the motto "Product quality and business reputation build the brand," the commercial fish output from IDI's linked farming areas consistently exceeds in both quantity and quality, receiving high market appreciation. IDI's products are now present in 50 countries and territories worldwide.
The quality of commercial pangasius is ensured by various factors, including the extensive experience of member farmers, quality of broodstock , and feed. Among these, Sao Mai Superfeed, a "smart choice" for aquaculture feed, is favored by farmers and customers, considered the key to success.
Within the framework of the aquaculture customer conference, Sao Mai Superfeed introduced a new product line called SMT24, with a protein content and micronutrients suitable for the current market, helping farmers save costs while achieving high yields and quality of commercial fish.
Specializing in pangasius feed with various product lines for each stage of commercial fish: fingerlings , adults, and harvestable fish , Sao Mai Superfeed is boosting its production capacity to 500,000 tons per year to meet the growing demand for pangasius exports. The emergence of Sao Mai Superfeed is a crucial link connecting IDI, closing the loop in the aquaculture and seafood export processing of the Sao Mai Group.
According to the plan, IDI is developing a high-quality seed center; constructing a US seafood processing plant (also known as plant number 3) with an investment of nearly VND 1,000 billion and a capacity of 120 tons/day, with an expected output of 20,000 tons of frozen fillets per year.
Although seafood exports have shown signs of recovery, they continue to face many difficulties due to global economic uncertainties. However, IDI, with its proactive and agile approach to seizing opportunities, has developed many positive and flexible solutions to respond to the complex developments of the consumer market.
IDI is continuously improving modern and civilized management processes, enhancing product quality, applying advanced and clean production technologies, ensuring absolute food safety, and reducing costs to increase competitiveness. IDI is determined to achieve its target of a 276% growth in profit as set out by the 2024 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders.
(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.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(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.
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
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn
