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.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached US$1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. In September alone, exports totaled US$210 million, an increase of 16%. China, the United States, and Brazil were the three largest markets, accounting for 49% of total export value. While China and Brazil maintained their growth momentum, exports to the US remained below the level recorded in the same period last year.
(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.
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