Trade – a fair business …?
Pangasius is being «pushed away» from EU and US
It is competing with other whitefish cod, sole, haddock and pollock – with a lower price
Markets access for pangasius is claimed to be thwarted both by industry and media
Called «the whitefish wars» – due to among others claimed neg. environmental impact
Pangasius has been «framed» by negative claims – i.e. an alternative reality has been communicated and perceived
Rebuttals both by Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) – and down the road by WWF (after first having added to the neg. publicity), have had little effect – so far.
WTO has formed a dispute panel to try to settle the differences between Vietnam and US
In the meantime, the Vietnamese sector has been working hard and pangasius is finding new markets in China, elsewhere in Asia and in Latin America.
Will Vietnam be «Third time lucky?» asked Gorjan Nikolik, Rabobank, at North Atlantic Seafood forum in Bergen earlier this year (Tom Seaman, Undercurrent News).
Supplies of whitefish from aquaculture
2017 – A moderate increase from 2016; Farmed whitefish
- A slow growth of Tilapia - China not contributing to growth….
- Increase for Pangasius & catfish-species – Vietnam not contributing
EU Imports of Pangasius
Frozen filles from Vietnam
Continiues decline since 2010 in EU
Markets for Pangasius in EU
Pangasius – US Imports (Vietnam)
Frozen fillet presentations
Dramatic shift in direction of trade flow
Vietnamese Pangasius (Mill USD)
Estimated supplies of whitefish in 2018
Estimated change in supplies of whitefish from aquaculture – 2017 to 2018 (by species)
Outlooks 2018 for selected Whitefish species
Marginal total volume growth – BUT shift towards more Aquaclture
- Farmed whitefish driving - «only a marginal» growth …
- Decrease in cod supply & pollock supply, - following cut in quotas
Outlook
2018; +5% increase in supplies of whitefish from aquaculture - -3 % from fisheries
Local markets AND China absorbs and steadily larger share of whitefish from aquaculture
Still significant drop in supplies of pangasius to EU and US - large volumes are routed to China and Hong Kong
Trends:
The growth in production in Asia will slow down
South-/Latin-America and Africa will be the growth regions
The Asia markets will continue to be strong – the flow of goods will «turn».
Europe need external seafood supplies
The EU seafood trade balance deficit is increasing – and –
EU pays more for the imported seafood year by year!
«Third time lucky…»(?) - and so what…?
Nikolik, Rabobank, criticized the pangasius sector for having a non-differentiated, basic product – competing «only» on price….?
Judged by reports from the Chinese market this might be changing – pangasius fillets are regarded as high quality products – sought for by Chinese consumers
However, differentiation and marketing is likely still a relevant focus to pursue!
Frame it – Market it – tell the story – in your own way – AND, expect what to come… because there will be health issues (for the fish), potential health risks (for the consumers) and potential environmental risks down the road
AND further, let us hope for a change to a more ethical and fair trade situation as discussed by Little et al. in Marine policy (2012) – both from a regulatory point of view, AND with respect to mass media.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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