CPTPP and Brazil Expand Market Share
Compared to 2024, the CPTPP (including Japan, Canada, Mexico, Chile, etc.) posted impressive 35% growth in the first nine months of 2025, reaching $271.4 million and lifting its share to approximately 17% of total export value (up from 14% in 2024). This surge reflects both tariff advantages under the trade pact and rising regional demand for sustainably sourced seafood products.
Brazil continues to stand out as a bright spot in South America with pangasius imports from Vietnam surging 45% to $128 million - a 2% increase in market share to 8% of total exports. Thailand also recorded solid growth of 27%, reaching $58.3 million, supported by recovering domestic consumption and re-exports to ASEAN markets.
Traditional markets ease slightly but retain dominant
In contrast, China - Hong Kong, Vietnam’s largest pangasius market, showed signs of stabilization, reaching $409.8 million in the first nine months of 2025 - a modest 2% decline from the same period in 2024. Nevertheless, it still commands nearly 26% of total export value, remaining the cornerstone of Vietnam’s export structure.
Exports to the United States totaled $257.2 million, representing 16% of total turnover, a 2% decline in share year-on-year. This reflects market saturation, intensifying competition from other whitefish species such as Alaska pollock and cod, alongside ongoing tariff-related headwinds. Meanwhile, the EU maintained a stable 8% share, generating $134.2 million - supported by rising demand for convenience foods and a shift away from Russian supplies.
Notably, the “other markets” cluster (Middle East, South Asia and Africa) recorded $340 million, up 3.6%, reflecting Vietnamese firms’ proactive efforts to diversify and mitigate concentration risk.
Vietnam’s pangasius export landscape in 2025 is thus undergoing a clear rebalancing. Traditional powerhouses like China and the U.S no longer hold absolute dominance; while CPTPP, South America and ASEAN are assuming greater significance. This shift highlights Vietnamese exporters’ adaptability - expanding into new markets while investing in value-added products aligned with global green and sustainable consumption trends.
Given current momentum, industry experts forecast a strong rebound in pangasius exports in Q4/2025, driven by year-end demand and early orders for the 2026 Lunar New Year season. However, rising raw material costs may pressure margins, requiring companies to optimize operations and maintain consistent quality to sustain growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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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Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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