China - Hongkong: Since the end of February and early March 2020, pangasius export to this market has just started to recover and grow again after Chinese processing factories returned to work. By the end of April 2020, the total export value of pangasius to the China - Hong Kong market reached US$111.1 million, down 20.2% compared to the same period in 2019. Particularly the export value to the Hong Kong market down 24.6% over the same period in 2019. Thus, up to this point, China - Hong Kong was still the largest importer of Vietnam pangasius enterprises, accounting for 24.7% of the total export value.
Until March and April 2020, although Chinese customers have begun to import again, mainly to stockpile because the enterprises of these countries worry that they will not be able to import more goods if Vietnam carries out the social isolation for an indefinite period. Moreover, after reopening post-COVID-19 production, Chinese people are still worried about eating outside or many restaurants still are closed after the pandemic, consumption at this channel is slow because buyers mainly buy via online system or supermarket. Some Chinese customers also offered to reduce the purchase price.
The US: After increasing by 26.4% compared to the same period of 2019 in March, in April 2020, the export value of pangasius to this market decreased by 20.7% compared to the same period in 2019. So far, the US has been the most hard-hit country in the world by COVID-19, its production activities face many difficulties. Food and aquatic product processing factories are facing labor difficulties. Therefore, pangasius export to the US in April 2020 slumped again. By the end of April 2020, pangasius export value to the US market reached 74.6%, down 14.6% over the same period in 2019.
ASEAN: By the end of April 2020, pangasius export to ASEAN reached US $53 million, down 24.4% compared to the same period in 2019. Thus, up to this point, ASEAN has been the third-largest importer of Vietnam pangasius (after China - Hong Kong and the US), accounting for 11.8% of total pangasius export value. Notably, in April 2020, pangasius exports to ASEAN declined, of which, exports to the largest importer in the region, Thailand also fell by nearly 30%; exports to Malaysia dived by 31% but the export value to Singapore spiked by 127, 6% over the same period in 2019. By the end of April 2020, pangasius exports to Singapore also rose by 12.7% compared to the same period in 2019. This was the market with the largest positive growth rate among the top 10 largest importers of Vietnam.
EU: After China, the EU was the second market heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in major importing markets in the bloc such as Italy, Spain, and the UK ... Lockdown measures in some countries such as Italy caused a sharp decline in seafood consumption demand because business activities of restaurants, hotels, and schools were closed. The stagnant of business activities caused seafood distributors to reduce prices, affecting the price of imported seafood. Therefore, in the first 4 months of 2020, pangasius exports to the EU faced many difficulties. By the end of April 2020, the export value of pangasius to this market reached US $48.3 million, down 36%, of which, exports to the three largest importers in the bloc: Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium all decreased, respectively: 29%; 31% and 38.8%.
With the complicated situation of COVID-19 pandemic in major export markets such as the US, EU, Brazil ..., it is difficult for pangasius exports in Q2 to escape negative growth. In the 3rd quarter, if the pandemic situation in some epidemic central countries is controlled, production and business activities reopened, the pangasius export will have a chance to recover.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Hai Phong's aquaculture sector is accelerating the adoption of high technologies in aquaculture to adapt to climate change, with red tilapia and tilapia identified as the key cultured species for priority development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion in June 2026, up 21.0% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2026 totaled nearly US$5.8 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared with the same period last year. Exports to China and Hong Kong continued to accelerate, while shipments to the United States rebounded strongly in June. In contrast, exports to the EU, Japan, and the Middle East remained sluggish or recorded slight declines.
(vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, driven not only by growing market opportunities but also by its ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety, and traceability. In practice, tilapia farming in Vietnam is not a spontaneous or loosely regulated activity; rather, it operates under a comprehensive legal and technical framework covering the entire value chain—from hatcheries and farming to processing and exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 16, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province announced that the locality has established a farming area code for nearly 30,400 hectares of mud crab aquaculture and granted export facility codes to five enterprises eligible to export mud crab officially to markets such as China, Cambodia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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