Indonesia has introduced its own brand of pangasius in the United Arab Emirates, considered a gateway to sales in the region, said VASEP.
The Indonesian Catfish Industry Association (APCI) in collaboration with the Indonesia Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) and SMART-Fish Indonesia launched “Indonesian Pangasius: The Better Choice” branding at the SEAFEX 2018 exhibition in Dubai-UAE. The country also promoted “Indonesian Pangasius” at The Indonesian Expo 2018 and 2019 Hajj and Umrah Exhibition in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, APCI said in a statement on 27 May.
In May, Indonesia completed its first shipment of three containers of pangasius to Saudi Arabia.
Last year, pangasius production in Indonesia rose by 22.2 percent to 391,151 metric tons from 2017, said APCI.
Meanwhile, exports of pangasius from Vietnam to the Middle East have fallen mainly as a result of an import ban imposed by authorities in Saudi Arabia, according to VASEP. Vietnam exported pangasius worth USD 70.8 million (EUR 63.5 million) to Middle East in the first half of 2019, down 8.6 percent year-on-year.
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) in January last year suspended imports of fish, crustaceans, and other products of aquatic animal origin from Vietnam reportedly due to the presence of two diseases in the Southeast Asian nation.
Saudi Arabia also increased trade barriers against pangasius from Vietnam by extending its halal farming requirements to feed and fingerling production facilities, VASEP said, adding that Vietnam's pangasius exporters have complied with the new requirements and are awaiting Saudi Arabia's response in their request to lift the ban.
The U.A.E. became the biggest buyer of pangasius from Vietnam within the Middle East region in the first six months, but the export value Vietnam gained from this market declined 27.9 percent from last year. Sales to other regional markets also fell: Iran was down 57.7 percent year-on-year, Israel was 10.5 percent lower year-on-year, Jordan was down 10 percent, and Lebanon was down 10.9 percent, said VASEP.
The value of the exports to other markets between January and June, however, rose against last year, including Egypt with USD 18 million (EUR 16.2 million), up 4.63 percent; Bahrain USD 14.9 million (EUR 13.4 million), jumping 209.8 percent; and Qatar USD 2.26 million (EUR 2.03 million), up 109.8 percent.
Vietnam is the biggest exporter of pangasius in the world. The country’s pangasius export value hit an all-time high at USD 2.26 billion (EUR 2.03 billion) last year, soaring 26.5 percent from 2017.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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