In August, pangasius exports to the US reached 33 million USD, up 45% over the same period. This result however does not reflect a positive trend because August 2021 is the time when pangasius exports plummeted due to the impact of the Covid pandemic. Pangasius sales to the US in August were slightly higher than in July 2022.
In the first 8 months of 2022, frozen pangasius fillets accounted for 87% of pangasius export value to the US. Vietnam exported about 94 thousand tons of frozen pangasius fillets to the US during this period. The average price of frozen pangasius fillets exported to the US in August 2022 remained high at 5 USD/kg. However, after reaching a high level from March to May with a volume of about 13.5-16 thousand tons/month, pangasius exports to this market began to slow down from June, falling to the lowest level in July and slightly recovered in August.
According to statistics of the US Department of Agriculture, in the first 7 months of this year, the US imported a total of 95.4 thousand tons of frozen pangasius, worth nearly US$ 403 million, up 35% in volume and 106% in value compared to the previous year.
Vietnam pangasius exports are expected to increase in the next coming months to serve the Chirstmas and New Year
In which, Vietnam's frozen pangasius exports to the US reached 88.2 thousand tons, worth 371 million USD, up 34% and 109% respectively over the same period last year. Vietnam accounts for over 92% of frozen pangasius imports to the US, both in volume and value.
The US also imports pangasius and catfish from China, Taiwan, Thailand and Brazil. In which, China accounts for about 5%, the remaining countries account for about 3%.
The average price of frozen pangasius imports into the US in the first 7 months of this year reached US$4.22/kg, up 53% over the same period last year. Particularly, the import price of frozen pangasius from Vietnam increased by 56% to 4.21 USD/kg.
Frozen pangasius fillets (HS code 030462) accounted for 96% of frozen pangasius imports into the US with over 91 thousand tons, worth 385 million USD. In which, imports from Vietnam reached 86.6 thousand tons, equivalent to 364 million USD.
In addition, the volume of whole/cut pangasius and catfish (HS code 030324) imported into the US accounted for only 1.3 thousand tons, equivalent to $5.8 million in value.
The increase in inventories, congestion at ports cause importers to start to reduce imports. Vietnam's frozen pangasius fillets exported to the US in August reached about 6.7 thousand tons, higher than July but much lower than in the first months of the year.
US pangasius imports will gradually increase in the coming months, when food price inflation in general and seafood in particular makes the US market more wobbly. Besides, the US will increase imports to meet the demands in Christmas and New Year.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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