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) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) More than five years after the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) took effect, Vietnamese seafood is steadily expanding its market share in the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s major seafood import markets with stable and diverse consumer demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At Van Hung Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Aquaculture Research Center and the Van Hung Public Service Center, organized a technical training course on the industrial-scale production of disease-free golden pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) seed for local marine fish farmers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports maintained a strong recovery in the first five months of 2026, reaching more than USD 302 million, up 17% compared to the same period in 2025. Growth was primarily driven by Asian markets, including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China, while exports to the United States and the European Union continued to face headwinds from cautious consumer demand and increasingly stringent compliance requirements.
Vietnamese seafood giant Minh Phu Group has inaugurated a VND1.5 trillion (US$57.4 million) seafood processing plant in Ca Mau Province.
(vasep.com.vn) From 19–21 August 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability", Vietfish 2026 continues to serve as Vietnam's flagship annual seafood event, bringing together seafood producers, exporters, importers, buyers, industry experts, government agencies, and stakeholders from across the domestic and global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in May 2026, reaching USD 14 million, up 18% compared with the same month last year. Cumulative export value for the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 62 million, representing a remarkable 101% increase over the same period in 2025, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery in international markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 367 million in the first five months of 2026, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025. While the decline is not yet severe, the more concerning issue is that pressure is mounting in key markets such as the United States and the European Union, just as ocean freight rates are rising sharply on long-haul routes. The current situation is therefore not merely about slower orders, but rather a clear restructuring phase for Vietnam’s tuna industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
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