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) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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