In September 2024, the export turnover for pangasius to Iraq reached nearly $1.8 million, reflecting a remarkable 155% increase compared to the same month in 2023. The cumulative value of pangasius exports to Iraq during the third quarter of 2024 alone totaled nearly $5 million, a staggering 111% rise from Q3 2023. Notably, the total pangasius export value for the first nine months of 2024 reached $11 million, an impressive 127% increase over the same period last year, and nearly 1.5 times the total export value for all of 2023.
Product Preferences and Market Dynamics
Unlike many of Vietnam’s other pangasius import markets, Iraq has shown a strong preference for dried fish products and other frozen options, such as whole fish and cut portions. In the first three quarters of 2024, exports of these products to Iraq amounted to $8 million, representing a 245% increase from the previous year and accounting for 73% of total exports. Meanwhile, frozen pangasius fillets contributed nearly $3 million in export value, reflecting a more modest growth of 19% year-over-year, and making up 27% of total pangasius exports to the country.
Iraq serves as a significant market and a longstanding trading partner for Vietnam. Despite being one of the world's largest oil exporters, Iraq's aquaculture industry is relatively underdeveloped. The primary freshwater fish species include various Barbus species and carp, primarily sourced from domestic waters and the Persian Gulf. The lack of an industrial fish processing sector means that most fish consumed in Iraq are fresh, with fishing contributing only a small fraction to the country's GDP.
Remarkably, despite geographical challenges and ongoing regional conflicts, Iraq's demand for Vietnamese pangasius products continues to grow. This resilience suggests a robust opportunity for further expansion in this market.
Leading Exporters
Among the exporters, Cuu Long An Giang Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company stands out as the leading supplier of pangasius to Iraq, capturing an impressive 60% share of the
The substantial increase in pangasius exports to Iraq underscores the potential for growth in this market, driven by specific consumer preferences for dried and frozen fish products. As Vietnam continues to strengthen its presence in the Middle Eastern seafood market, companies will need to adapt to local demands and navigate the complexities of the regional trade environment to maximize their opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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