In the first quarter of 2021, the total export value of pangasius reached 344.2 million USD, up 3% over the same period in 2020. In which, the export value to the US, China - Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Colombia, Russia and the UAE all rose.
The US
By the end of March 2021, pangasius export value to the US market reached 71.6 million USD, up 16% over the same period in March last year and accounted for 20.81% of the total export value. Particularly in March 2021, pangasius exports to this market also increased by 23.8%. In the past few years, the US catfish industry is facing difficulties when the area and production of aquaculture have decreased sharply. Therefore, this country increased imports of pangasius products to fill this shortfall. According to sources from some importers, US inventories have been depleted since the beginning of this year, so the demand for US pangasius imports will likely increase gradually in the near future.
China - Hong Kong
Tightening control of imported food for the reason that the corona virus is transmitted through products has caused a bottleneck in exporting pangasius of Vietnamese enterprises to China at the end of 2020. However, according to the assessment of Exporting enterprises, from March 2021, trade activities have been busy again. This is also reflected by the export value to China in March 2021 increased by nearly 28% over the same period last year, reaching 44.4 million USD, the highest export value in the top 10 markets, accounting for 30 .5% of total export value of pangasius. By the end of March 2021, the export value of pangasius to this market reached 69.7 million USD, up 10.3% over the same period in 2020.
CPTPP
The export value of pangasius to this market group is considered to be the most positive in January 2021 when some markets in the group increased imports. However, in March 2021, the import value of pangasius of the CPTPP decreased by 6.2% compared to the same period last year. As of March 2021, the export value of pangasius to this market reached 52.6 million USD, down 5.1%. In which, the export value to some markets decreased: Australia decreased by 2.3%; Singapore down 9.4%; Japan fell 21%.
Russia
Russia is a market that attracts a lot of attention on the picture of Vietnamese pangasius exports in the first 3 months of this year. This market used to be a potential traditional market of enterprises in the past 10 years. However, with a different import policy compared to other markets, pangasius exporters to this market also experienced many ups and downs. In the first three months of this year, this market stands out for the growth of pangasius imports up to 126.3 percent over the same period last year, reaching 10 million USD (after the UK market). Particularly in March 2021, the export value to this market reached 4.46 million USD, up more than 700% over the same period last year.
Thus, Vietnam's pangasius exports in the first 3 months of this year have begun to gradually revive after a year of being interrupted by Covid-19 and crisis in some major markets. However, if only looking at this growth rate, pangasius exporters are not optimistic because right from the beginning of this year, input costs have increased sharply, shipping costs have also skyrocketed ... strongly affecting costs and prices of pangasius companies.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional 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 - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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