The figure was announced at a recent conference in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang to review pangasius production and consumption and seek measures for the sector’s sustainable development.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong called on pangasius producers to improve their business operation to raise their products’ quality, reduce price to promote export while focusing on exploring the 92-million-people domestic market.
According to the Ministry, as of November 2016, the pangasius farming areas reached 4,522 hectares, producing 1,047 million tonnes of pangasius.
The figures are estimated at 5,000 ha for a yearly harvest of 1.2 million tonnes by the end of this year, up nine percent over 2015.
Vietnam has so far this year shipped pangasius products to 140 markets in the world, up four markets over 2015, earning over 1.46 billion USD. The main markets are the US, the EU, China, ASEAN, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Arab Saudi.
In 2016, the Mekong Delta has 108 pangasius fry nursing facilities and 1,856 households breeding 16.5 billion fries on 1,500 hectares, up one percent over the 2015, mostly in Dong Thap, An Giang, Can Tho and Vinh Long provinces.
According to Nhu Van Can, Director of the Ministry’s Aquaculture Department, the Mekong Delta has 4,785 pangasius farms, over half of which belong to enterprises. The rest are run by households and cooperatives.
Domestic enterprises have started paying attention to developing production chains connecting stakeholders in the sector, including fry producers, food suppliers and processors, Can said, adding that however these chains are incomplete.
Duong Ngoc Minh, Director General of Hung Vuong Group suggested the Ministry invest more in key young pangasius breeding localities, apply advanced technology in the process and develop connections between enterprises and farmers.
Minister Cuong said pangasius processors and exporters need to work with farmers to develop brand names for Vietnamese pangasius to enhance their competitiveness.
Farmers need to follow the strict requirements in the farming area in a sustainable manner, in close link with the production chain or cooperatives and in line with the standards such as VietGap, GlobalGap.
The Ministry will instruct relevant bodies to provide supports for stakeholders and improve the role of the Aquaculture Association and the Pangasius Association in expanding export markets.
In 2017, the sector is expected to earn over 1.7 billion USD from exports, up 10 percent from this year.
Source: VNA
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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