Pangasius exports surpass $2 billion in the first 11 months

Following a strong surge in October, the Chinese market maintained steady growth momentum in November. Pangasius export turnover to China reached nearly $59 million, a 17% increase over the same period in 2024. As the largest monthly contributor, China continued to play a leading role in Viet Nam’s pangasius export earnings.

Pangasius exports to the United States totaled $20 million in November, down 23% year-on-year. The decline was largely attributed to the impact of a 20% reciprocal tariff, which has weakened the price competitiveness of Vietnamese pangasius in the US market. The downward trend has persisted since August, showed no signs of reversal in November.

Exports to the European Union (EU) reached $12 million in November, plummeting by 25% compared to the previous year. The contraction was mainly driven by two key markets - the Netherlands (down 18%) and Germany (down 20%). Nevertheless, several other EU markets recorded modest growth, suggested latent development potential for Vietnamese products within the bloc

Within the CPTPP bloc, exports to the UK amounted to $5 million, down slightly by 4% compared with last year. The narrower decline compared to the previous two months is viewed as an initial recovery signal following a period of deep contraction. Mexico remained a bright spot with export turnover surging to $8 million, equivalent to a 50% increase. Meanwhile, Japan and Malaysia maintained stable growth with a modest 2% rise, reflecting positive demand trends and expansion possibilities in these territories.

Export turnover to Brazil reached $15 million in November, up 13% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first 11 months of 2025, robust growth was recorded in Thailand (+24%), Egypt (+33%) and Russia (+45%) compared with the same period last year. Despite their strong growth rates, the contribution of these markets to the total pangasius export structure remains relatively modest. Consequently, enterprises need to intensify trade promotion activities to deepen market penetrationand expand product segments in these high-potential destinations.

From January to November 2025, pangasius fillet exports (HS0304) generated more than $1.6 billion in revenue, up 11% year-on-year and continued to represent the largest category in the export structure. Exports of frozen, dried, whole pangasius and fish maws (HS03, excluding HS0304) reached nearly $348 million, remaining flat against the previous year. Meanwhile, processed pangasius products (HS16) recorded $48 million, marking a 13% increase compared with 2024.

Export data indicate robust growth momentum in the Chinese market; however, the deep contraction in the U.S and EU has elevated China’s share to 30% of the total pangasius export structure. In contrast, Brazil and several CPTPP markets posted strong growth but still possess significant headroom for development.

Looking ahead to 2026, the 20% reciprocal tariff in the U.S market is expected to continue exerting adverse effects, dampening the competitiveness of Vietnamese pangasius products. This underscores the need for exporters to proactively diversify into alternative markets, broaden their product portfolios and place greater emphasis on value-added and deeply processed products. At the same time, obtaining internationally recognized sustainability certifications will become increasingly critical to strengthening the Vietnamese pangasius brand and reinforcing its competitive edge amid intensifying price competition.