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) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
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