China and the U.S. continue to grow while Brazil slows down
China remained Vietnam’s largest pangasius import market with impressive results. In April 2026, exports to this market reached USD 53 million, up 26% year-on-year. Total exports in the first four months climbed to USD 197 million, accounting for nearly 27% of total pangasius exports and increasing by 54% — the strongest growth rate among major markets. Chinese consumer demand recovered quickly after a cautious period, while advantages in transportation and bilateral trade relations have been effectively utilized.
The United States ranked second, with April export value reaching USD 39 million, up 20% year-on-year. Cumulative exports through April reached USD 106 million, up 4% — positive but far more modest growth compared to China. Under pressure from the 10% tariff and competition from alternative whitefish suppliers, Vietnamese pangasius exports to the U.S. have recovered after a prolonged period of negative growth. However, Vietnamese pangasius products in the U.S. market continue to face significant challenges and competition from other whitefish products.
Brazil, the largest pangasius consumption market in Latin America, recorded export turnover of USD 17 million in April, up 13% year-on-year. However, cumulative exports in the first four months of 2026 reached only USD 57 million, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025.
EU posts slight growth, CPTPP continues to accelerate
Total pangasius exports to the EU from January to April 2026 reached USD 57 million, down 4% year-on-year. In April alone, exports to the EU reached USD 17 million, up slightly by 5%, indicating gradual recovery toward the end of the period.
From the beginning of the year through April 2026, the CPTPP bloc maintained strong growth momentum, with total exports to member markets reaching USD 128 million, up 21% year-on-year.
Frozen fillets continue to dominate
Regarding product structure in the first four months of 2026, frozen pangasius products under HS03 accounted for 98% of total export turnover. Of this, frozen fillets (HS0304) reached USD 594 million, accounting for more than 82% of the industry’s total export value and rising 20%, continuing to be the core product of Vietnamese pangasius in international markets. In contrast, value-added pangasius products under HS16 contributed only USD 13 million, accounting for less than 2% of total exports and declining 16% — indicating that the high value-added segment has yet to be effectively developed.
Vietnam’s pangasius export performance in the first four months of 2026 shows that the industry is maintaining positive growth momentum, driven mainly by China and the CPTPP markets.
Although exports to the EU and Brazil have shown signs of slowing in the short term, this may also create opportunities for enterprises to restructure markets, improve product quality, and enhance adaptability to increasingly stringent import requirements. At the same time, the HS16 processed product segment still holds considerable growth potential. As global demand for convenient and value-added food products continues to rise, this segment could become an important driver for increasing export value and improving profit margins for the pangasius industry in the coming years.
However, alongside the positive signals, businesses should also pay attention to several market uncertainties in the coming period, including the increasing use of trade defense measures, exchange rate fluctuations, and rising international logistics costs. In this context, market diversification, increasing the share of value-added products, and investing more in sustainable farming areas will remain key strategies for enhancing resilience and maintaining long-term growth for Vietnam’s pangasius industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
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