PRESS RELEASE
Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S still steady after August 2, 2017
Pangasius exports to the United States declined in the first quarter due to a shortage of raw materials, but recovered in the second quarter
with an 8.4% increase thanks to rising demand and the increase in raw material supply. Vietnam pangasius exports to the market is still steady after August 2, 2017, when all batches of products of Siluriformes fish that are to be shipped to the United States will have to undergo food safety tests.
Concerned about the catfish inspection program, Mr. Truong Dinh Hoe - General Secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (“VASEP) said that, while the equivalence process is not yet finished, it is prudent not to assume any possibility of Vietnam not passing through the equivalence determination or the consequential suspension of the on-going exports to the U.S. at any specific time. He added that during the 18-month transitional period, both sides have worked out cooperative approaches to common issues in question and FSIS has also given close guidance on how to comply with the US requirements.
After receiving the official letter of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) informing ahead schedule inspection of Siluriformes fish (starting August 02. 2017 instead of September 01, 2017), the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (“NAFIQAD”) has provided guidance to establishments eligible for exports to the U.S. (as listed in https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/eb3720e3-221c-4928-a018-028df5cc28b5/Vietnam_establishments.pdf?MOD=AJPERES) on the inspection requirements regarding labeling, detailed inspection contents, testing parameters for chemicals residues and speciation,etc,.. Following this guidance, on August 15, 2017 Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Decision 3379/QD-BNN-QLCL providing the Siluriformes Controlling Program for exports to the U.S. effective as of September 1, 2017.
NAFIQAD is also preparing a complete equivalence package to be submitted to FSIS on August 20, 2017. After that, FSIS will initiate the review process of the submitted documentation, and if the submission provides an initial basis for believing the country to be equivalent, FSIS will do an in-country audit.
Although Hoe believes that Vietnam pangasius industry has been well developed with substantial and stringent food safety control system to be determined equivalent, he expressed a concern that an import discrimination policy from the U.S. government may cause unfavorable and unfair decision against Vietnam.
VASEP hopes that there will be solutions by the 2 governments not to disrupt free trade between the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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