In the first 4 months of this year, Vietnam pangasius exports to major markets were good and stable. China - Hong Kong is still the most attractive market for pangasius exporters with a value of more than USD 300 million, up 156% over the same period last year. The US is the second-largest market, export value also increased by 136%, equivalent to USD 241 million. Pangasius exports to the EU market also increased by more than 84% with a value of USD 65 million.
At the Global Seafood Expo in Spain at the end of April, many Vietnamese pangasius businesses introduced customers to a number of value-added products and sought new orders. It is forecasted that in the second quarter of this year, pangasius exports to major traditional markets will continue to be satisfactory.
In addition to the above markets, in the first 4 months of this year, Vietnamese pangasius exporters are very active in developing into potential markets. Notably, there are 3 markets: Mexico, Egypt and Thailand.
After nearly 3 years of being affected by Covid-19, pangasius export activities to these 3 markets are busier than ever. The number of enterprises participating in exporting is also higher. Currently, Mexico is the market with the largest export value among the CPTPP markets. In the first 4 months of the year, the total export value of pangasius to Mexico reached over USD 40 million - an increase of 69%; to Thailand reached over USD 38 million - an increase of 80%; to Egypt reached USD 14 million - an increase of 85% over the same period last year.
Thailand has been a new customer of Vietnamese pangasius in recent years. Like China, the geographical distance factor and the growing demand for pangasius imports have attracted many Vietnamese pangasius enterprises. Up to now, there are nearly 60 enterprises actively participating in exporting to Thailand. In addition, Malaysia is also the target market of many Vietnamese pangasius exporters this year.
Recently, the US Food Safety and Inspection Agency has recognized that 6 more pangasius processing factories are allowed to process and export frozen pangasius to the US market. The Animal and Plant Health Quarantine Service of the Russian Federation also added 2 more enterprises to the list of allowed exports to the Eurasian Economic Union. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has not come to an end, after the stagnation of trade activities, now pangasius exports to these two markets have reconnected. These new developments can boost pangasius exports to grow more positively in the coming time.
Up to this point, the price of raw pangasius in the Mekong Delta has remained high, ranging from 31,000 to VND 32,500/kg.
Complied by Minh Trang
(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.
(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.
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