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
(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.
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