In Q.III/2012, pangasius production is estimated to ensure only 70 percent of raw material for processing because farmers left their fish ponds or lately stocked fish in the first two quarters of the year.
In late Q.II/2012 and early Q.III/2012, price of raw fish slumped by VND2,000 – 3,000 per kilogram, but fish companies lacked money to purchase fish. It will go up since August and reach to VND24,000 – 25,000 per kilogram in late Q.III/2012 along with some positive changes in supply – demand in both importing markets and domestic market.
Pangasius crisis from January – June 2012 makes many sources in the industry worry about a future scarcity of fish supply in the last months of 2012 and in early 2013. Short supply of commercial fish is because of drop in fish fingerlings production and farming superficies. Moreover, many fish processors and farmers lack money to pay back bank credits, so they can not invest comprehensively and urgently in fish farming.
Rebound of pangasius export in late Q.III/2012
Pangasius has now built up their image and trademark in many different fish-consuming countries. Over the past years, fast-growing trade and rising consumption demand in the world market made Vietnam fish suffer unfair competition and smear in some markets. In contrast, pangasius is still a popular fish with good quality and reasonable price, which is welcome by consumers particularly in economic crisis time.
Vietnam pangasius imports into the EU keep falling by 16 – 20 percent in July – August 2012 and got recovery in September. The EU still remains the most important market and contributes 25 – 27 percent to Vitenam total pangasius export value. Other potential markets (Russia, Brazil, Colombia with proportion of 8.5 – 9 percent) is limiting imports since Q.II/2012. The decline will fall by 40 – 50 percent in Q.III/2012.
Furthermore, price of exported pangasius is not able to rise in Q.III/2012, but stay at the level of Q.II/2012 because almost other white fish or tilapia with huge supply in the global market report declining price. So Vietnam pangasius can not stay out the trend.
However, in late Q.II/2012 and in Q.III/2012, pangasius will saw strong growth in most importing countries, including the U.S. large market (+27 – 30 percent), ASEAN (+30 – 40 percent), China (40 – 60 percent)…As usual in the third quarter, foreign fish importers accelerate buying fish to satisfy consumption demand in the year’s end holidays; therefore, earning from export is predicted to reach its peak in this period.
With shortage of raw material, lack of capital for fish processing for export, and uncertain global market, price of pangasius will keep soaring from Q.II/2012 and from the same period of 2011. Export revenue reachs US$480 million, up 12 percent from US$428.3 million in Q.II/2012, representing 26.3 percent of total seafood export estimated in Q.III/2012.
(According to Report on Vietnam seafood export in Q.II/2012 – VASEP)
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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
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