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) 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.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
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