Currently, a draft of the Decree on pangasius production and export has been developed by authorized agencies in cooperation with stakeholders, including fish farmers and companies, in order to set up a legal framework for production and trading activities in the industry.
According to the draft, production of commercial pangasius has to satisfy these following requirements: fish farms have to be under the production planning approved by provincial People’s Committees; fish farms are required to be registered with local aquaculture agencies on farming area, time for farming and fish output. By December 31st 2014, all fish farmers are obligated to be certified to meet VietGAP standards or other international standards recognized by Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
Fish exporters must own processing plants meeting requirements regulated in the Decree. Or they have processing or supply contracts with export companies having processing facilities which meet the mentioned requirements.
Developing a sustainable pangasius value chain
In addition to a new legal framework, a community project on sustainably developing Vietnam pangasius industry, titled “Establishing a Sustainable Pangasius supply chain in Vietnam” (SUPA) has been carried out by Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre (VNCPC) in cooperation with Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), WWF Vietnam and WWF Austria on August 2nd 2013. The project is realized in the 2013 - 2017 period with total investment of nearly EUR2.4 million.
SUPA focuses on strengthening the capacity of Vietnam pangasius industry towards a more responsible production in order to improve the quality of products, mitigate environmental impacts, as well as reduce production costs. The project also shares information and offer technical assistances to medium and small enterprises and household fish farmers to help them apply current sustainable standards like ASC and GlobalGAP, enhancing competitiveness of Vietnam pangasius products in the global market.
Truong Dinh Hoe, VASEP’s General Secretary, shared that SUPA planned to set up a model fish farm to bring modern technologies to local farmers, leading to cost-effective production. A training centre will also be established in Can Tho University to provide farmers with training courses on fish breeding, quality control and market information gathering. In particular, fish farmers are trained to undertake negotiations with foreign buyers to gain business profits.
By the completion of the project, at least 70 percent of the beneficiary companies will reach their target to develop medium and large pangasius production and processing chains; 30 percent of small feed processors and fish farms involve in Resources Efficiency and Cleaner Production (RE-CP) method. Furthermore, there will be at least 50 percent of project-participing companies will be able to provide the EU and other markets with sustainable pangasius products meeting standards like ASC.
“Currently, many foreign importers are interested in pangasius products certified by ASC and GlobalGAP. Since the end of December 2012, some retailers in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the U.K. and Italy have stopped sourcing more pangasius fillets from importers to prepare for the introduction of ASC-labeled fish products into these markets. This is great opportunity for Vietnamese pangasius companies to develop their market shares in European countries, increasing the prices for exported fishes,” said Mr. Hoe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
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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