Earlier this year, there were 5 Vietnamese enterprises participating in exporting pangasius to the Russian market. However, in January 2022, the export value of pangasius to this market reached US$2.18 million, down 29.8% over the same period in 2021.
In 2021, the Covid-19 epidemic had a positive impact, causing a sharp increase in the demand for importing Russian frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam. In 2021, Vietnam was one of the three largest suppliers of white fish products to Russia (after Argentina and China). Vietnam is a unique market supplying frozen pangasius to Russia. Until now, Vietnamese pangasius enterprises still consider Russia as a market with great potential and great demand.
Since the beginning of this year, especially after Russia opened a special military campaign in Ukraine, the situation of exporting Vietnamese pangasius to this market is temporarily interrupted and facing many difficulties.
As reflected by some large pangasius exporters to Russia, after Western countries introduced a series of financial sanctions targeting Russian banks, the ruble fell by nearly 30%, to the lowest level. so far against the USD, with the milestone of nearly 95 Rubles for 1 USD on March 1. Due to the strong depreciation of the ruble, many importers do not want to pay for their orders. The payment situation through banks of enterprises is almost paralyzed, some importers have accounts in other countries but the payment is not easy.
Currently, enterprises have temporarily stopped signing pangasius export orders to Russia, although many importers still want to continue cooperation without interruption.
Shipping lines have also announced not to accept shipping containers to Russia because of the very high risk that shipments may be detained at the Port of Rotterdam before reaching two major Russian seaports, Saint Petersburg and Vladivostok.
Moreover, currently, the price of raw pangasius in the Mekong Delta has increased to 32,000 VND/kg due to scarcity. Enterprises cannot buy raw materials due to the sharp increase in prices. Many other large markets are also in great demand to import pangasius, but factories do not have enough raw materials for processing, not to mention enough finished fish to be exported to Russia in the current context of war tensions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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