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) In March 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded strong growth, reaching USD 15 million, up 109% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, in the first three months of 2026, export value reached USD 38 million, an increase of 174% year-on-year. This result highlights the sector’s robust expansion and reflects rapid growth across multiple markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached USD 182 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, exports in the first three months of 2026 totaled USD 514 million, an increase of 17% year-on-year, indicating that the growth momentum is being maintained despite signs of slowdown in some markets during March.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During peak heat periods, farmers raising pangasius, tilapia, and other freshwater fish in Dong Thap are implementing various technical measures to reduce risks and maintain stable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
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