In the first half of 2021, trade barriers from China and the decline in pangasius exports to the EU over the past several years have caused Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to shift to potential markets in ASEAN, the Middle East or Latin America. . In which, the number of enterprises promoting pangasius exports to Brazil and Mexico increased significantly compared to the previous year.
In the second quarter of 2021, the export value of pangasius to Mexico increased impressively to triple digits, from 166% to 232% over the same period in 2020.
Mexico is the market with the second highest per capita income in Latin America (after Brazil). Free trade system with relatively low import tax, ranging from 0-35% on average. This is also a market in the CPTPP bloc. According to the CPTPP Agreement, the import tax rate of seafood into the Mexican market will be 0% from the third year. Pangasius is the seafood product imported by Mexico with the largest volume and value, followed by fish tuna products. .
Currently, the average export price of frozen pangasius fillets to the Mexican market ranges from 1.75 to 1.82 USD/kg. Many pangasius enterprises moved from some other markets to Mexico, so by the end of July 2021, there were more than 40 Vietnamese seafood enterprises exporting pangasius to Mexico. The largest of which are: IDI CORP, NAVICO and DATHACO. Pangasius processing enterprises in Dong Thap, An Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho and Vinh Long are promoting pangasius exports to the Mexican market.
Currently, Vietnam exports to Mexico mainly frozen pangasius fillets and frozen pangasius portion .
Like many other economies, at the end of August 2021, after more than 18 months of closure due to the Covid-19 epidemic, Mexico cautiously opened its economy and was ready to "live with Covid-19". Currently, Mexican importers have begun to stabilize production and gradually increase the amount of goods supplied to many big cities. The country is also maintaining an open border policy to take advantage of economic benefits, promote production and trade.
Seeing the potential ahead, however, the most necessary thing for Vietnamese pangasius exporters during this time is to soon return to stable production after the gap.
Hopefully, after social distancing efforts to control the disease in many localities, pangasius processing enterprises will soon stabilize again to maintain orders, create jobs for workers and capture promising opportunities for export to the Mexican market.
(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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