According to Vietnam Customs, though August 2013, Vietnam exported US$7.67 million of pangasius products to this market, compared to US$5.9 million in the same period of 2012.
Indians’ demand for seafood consumption is increasing as per-capita income has increased and the rapid urbanization led to a great range of news supermarkets. Stronger demand caused overexploitation of fish stocks. In the fiscal year of 2008 – 2009, fish catches rose 7 percent, but the figure was down 3.5 percent in 2012 – 2013.
In 2012, Indian spent US$68.39 million on seafood imports (HS03), down 39 percent from US$112.4 million in 2011. In which, seafood from Bangladesh made up 53 percent, worth US$36.39 million. Vietnam was the second supplier with US$11.25 million, equalto 16.5 percent. Market shares of Vietnamese products in India increased from 7.7 percent in 2011 to 16.5 percent in 2012. In contrast, Bangladesh’s shares downed from 77.9 percent to 53 percent in 2012.
In 2012, purchase of marine fish products (HS03) into India reported a rise compared to 2011, excluding fresh fishes (HS0302) which went down 59.8 percent. The highest growth of 829 percent was seen in live fish species (HS0301). It was followed by frozen fishes (HS0303) with a 84.6 percent rise.
Spending for imported frozen fish fillets were US$10.5 million in 2012. Vietnam was the leading supplier with US$7.69 million of value, up nearly 32 percent from US$5.8 million in 2011 and accounted for 73 percent of proportion. India mainly bought pangasius from Vietnam, which is the main factor of a strong increase in seafood imports from Vietnam during the recent years.
Currently, marine fish stocks in Indian waters are dwindling, local fishermen have to turn to smaller fishes. As a result, there were not enough raw materials with standard quality for processing fish fillets. Many Indian seafood companies supplying products to upper market segment and restaurant chains have to import pangasius from Vietnam to satisfy demands for domestic food services.
Since 2008, wholesale prices of seafood products have increased by 131 percent in Indian market. In which, marine fishes saw rise of 91 percent, fish caught in domestic waters up 200 percent. Higher raw fish prices pushed local processors and exporters in fisheries and relevant sectors in difficulty. However, it was an opportunity for imported fish products to gain more shares in this market.
With coastal lines of 7,500 kilometers, special economic zone of 2 million square kilometers and 1.24 million hectares of bracket waters appropriate to aquaculture, India has high potentials to develop the domestic fishing industry. In 2012, India exported US$3.28 billion of seafood products; in which, crustaceans (HS0306) occupied the largest proportion, followed by frozen fishes (HS0303), mollusks (HSS0307) and frozen fish fillets (HS0304).
Indian government focuses on strengthening seafood production and exports in order to explore the country’s advantages and potentials. The country targeted to be in the top five fishery producing countries in the world. It also wanted to learn Vietnam’s experiences in developing pangasius production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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