The US
In 2018, the total value of Pangasius export to the US market reached US$549.4 million, an increase of 59.5% compared to 2017, accounting for 24.3% of total Pangasius export of Vietnam. Particularly in December 2018, Pangasius exports to this market increased tremendously by 124% compared to the same period last year, reaching US$55 million. With a steady increase and bigger growth, up to the end of October 2018, the US market has returned to the No 1 position of Vietnam Pangasius export. First of all, the US Department of Commerce (DOC) issued a preliminary conclusion of the 14th anti-dumping tax review (POR14) for the period from August 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017 for Vietnamese Tra and Basa fish products exported to the US market. Accordingly, the preliminary tax rates for two mandatory defendants were US$0/kg and US$1.37 / kg. The tax rate for voluntary defendants was US$0.41/kg and the national tax rate was US$2.39/kg. These tax were much lower than the final result of the POR13 review of US$3.87/ kg. Although this was only a preliminary tax rate, it has generated goodwill for Pangasius export enterprises to the US market. Besides, the fact that FSIS recognized Vietnam's catfish control system equivalently to that system in the US. The trade tensions between China and US were also the opportunity for Vietnamese Pangasius to gain market share from Tilapia into a big importer such as the US.
China - Hongkong
By the end of 2018, the value of Pangasius export to the Chinese market reached US$528.6 million, up 28.7% over the previous year, accounting for 23.4% of total export of Pangasius. Although last year, the growth of Pangasius export to China - Hong Kong market has "cooled down" compared to 2 years ago. However, this is still considered a potential and large export market of Vietnamese pangasius export enterprises.
EU
In 2018, exporting pangasius to the EU market has prospered again after years of gloom with export value to this market reached US$243.9 million, up 20.2% over the previous year, accounting for 10.8% total export of pangasius. Thus, the EU is the third largest exporter of Vietnamese Pangasius exporting enterprises (after the US and China - Hong Kong). The four largest importers in the region were Netherlands, England, Germany and Belgium experiencing a very good growth with increasing by 33.4%; 5.9%; 10.5% and 11.8% respectively over the previous year.
Currently, Pangasius products are competing with tilapia and Alaskan pollock in some key markets in Europe. The replacement of pangasius products in some market segments is taking place across Europe with varying degrees. According to CBI, Germany and Poland are suppliers to Central and Eastern European countries, where there is no large import port. According to statistics in 2017, €45 million of frozen pangasius was re-exported within the EU. These countries included the Netherlands (€31 million ), Belgium (€14 million) and Germany (€ 8 million). This is a good signal for Vietnamese Pangasius in these markets.
ASEAN - UAE
At the end of December 2018, Pangasius export to ASEAN markets reached US$202.6 million, up 41.5% compared to 2017. Export to the three largest markets of Thailand, Singapore and Philippines increased positively by 48.8%; 20.7% and 32.1% respectively compared to 2017. In 2018, Pangasius export to ASEAN had many advantages and high demand especially in the "emerging" market of the Philippines.
An increasing bigger market in the Middle East, exporting pangasius to the UAE surged 108.5%, reaching US$48.1 million during 2018. Since the beginning of that same year, export value to this market has grown on three digits. Forecasting in 2019, exporting Pangasius to this market will continue to grow positively because of high demand for stable imports.
(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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