Regarding export structure, pangasius under HS code 03 constituted 97% of the total export turnover, reaching USD 130 million, a 20% decrease compared to the same period last year. Specifically, fresh/frozen/dried pangasius (excluding HS code 0304) experienced a 28% decrease, while pangasius under HS code 0304 declined by 18%.
In January 2025, value-added pangasius (HS Code 16) constituted a minor share, generating over USD 3 million, reflecting a modest 3% increase compared to the previous year.
In terms of consumption markets, China and Hong Kong remained the largest consumers of Vietnamese pangasius in the first month of this year. Despite a negative growth of 40% year-on-year, exports to this market still reached over USD 31 million, accounting for 24% of Vietnam's total pangasius exports globally.
In January 2025, the CPTPP bloc surpassed the United States to become the second-largest import market for Vietnamese Pangasius. Although export turnover to this bloc witnessed a 17% decrease compared to January 2024, it still reached USD 21 million. Pangasius exports to Mexico remained the highest within the CPTPP bloc, at over USD 5 million, a 20% decrease compared to the same period.
The United States was the third-largest consumer of Vietnamese pangasius in the first month of the year, after consistently holding the second position behind China & Hong Kong for many years. Pangasius exports to the United States in January 2025 reached USD 18 million, a 2% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Pangasius exports to the EU in January 2025 reached over USD 13 million, a 2% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Within the EU bloc, the Netherlands remained the largest consumer of Vietnamese pangasius, with over USD 3.4 million, a 9% decrease compared to January 2024. In the first month of this year, pangasius exports to Germany recorded positive growth of 57%, with a value of nearly USD 3 million. However, many other EU markets experienced sharp declines, such as Colombia (down 38%), Spain (down 33%), and the United Kingdom (down 30%).
Despite a smaller decrease compared to other markets, the significant decline in the China & Hong Kong market, coupled with a less pronounced decrease in the CPTPP market, led to the United States falling to third place, immediately after the CPTPP bloc. Reasons for the decline in exports and shifts in rankings in the US market may include seasonal factors, as the first month of the year is typically a period following the peak demand of the previous year-end, potentially slowing down production and export activities. Other contributing factors include shifts in global market demand, competition from other supply sources, technical and tariff barriers from import markets, inventory holdings by US importers from the end of 2024, and competition from other whitefish products in the US market.
For more information, please refer to: REPORT ON VIETNAM PANGASIUS SECTOR 2015-2024
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(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.
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