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) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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