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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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