Accumulated in the first 9 months of 2023, Vietnam's pangasius exports reached nearly 1.4 billion USD, down 31% over the same period last year. In particular, the main export product is pangasius with HS code 0304 (except fish cakes and surimi products) reaching 1.1 billion USD, accounting for 82%. In September 2023 alone, exports to other markets reached 135 million USD, down 4% compared to the same period in 2022. This is the lowest decline since the beginning of this year, followed by live/fresh/frozen/dried pangasius products (HS code 03) (except HS code 0304) reaching 222 million USD, accounting for 16% and other processed pangasius (HS code 16) reached 22 million USD, accounting for 2%.
Regarding the consumption market, in September 2023, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to main markets like China & Hong Kong, EU, Brazil, Mexico,... recorded positive double-digit growth. In addition, the US market, CPTPP, Korea, Singapore,... recorded a decline of 3% to 54% compared to the same period last year.
In September 2023, China & Hong Kong imported 56 million USD of Vietnam’s pangasius, up 15% over the same period last year. By the end of September 2023, export turnover to China & Hong Kong reached 434 million USD, down 26% compared to the same period in 2022. China & Hong Kong have continuously led the top import markets of Vietnam’s pangasius from 2019 to present and are the largest consumer markets for vietnam's pangasius.
The US ranked 2nd in importing vietnam's pangasius. In September alone, the US bought nearly 23 million USD of Vietnam's pangasius, down 29% over the same period last year. High inventory is the factor causing the value of pangasius exports to this market to continuously decline since the beginning of this year. Accumulated in the first 9 months of 2023, pangasius exports to the US reached 207 million USD, down 54% compared to the same period in 2022.
The EU is one of the markets recording positive growth in September 2023. In September, the EU consumed more than 14 million USD of Vietnam’s pangasius, up 11% over the same period last year, up 9% over the previous month. In the first 9 months of 2023, the EU imported 129 million USD of pangasius, down 19% over the same period last year. With export value resuming positive in September 2023, the EU is gradually returning to the top markets importing pangasius from Vietnam.
The CPTPP market narrowed its decline to 4% in September 2023 when pangasius export turnover reached 21 million USD. This is also the lowest decrease of this market sector since the beginning of the year. However, some markets in the CPTPP bloc still gained 10% - 70% such as Japan, Mexico, New Zealand,...
In September 2023, pangasius exports to several main markets showed signs of recovery after a long period of decline. This is a positive signal in the context that most economies in the world have low growth rates due to declining aggregate demand, inflation, central banks tightening monetary policy, world public debt increasing to record levels, the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, geopolitical instability, food security, natural disasters, climate change... It is expected that the recovery momentum from the end of the third quarter will support pangasius exports in the fourth quarter.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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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