As of Mar 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports hit US$365.4 million, up 2.4% over QI/2015. Products of frozen/ fresh pangasius fillets/whole round, (HS code 03) accounted for 99.2% of total export value, while processed pangasius (HS code 16) accounted for 0.8%.
The U.S.
In QI/2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S. gained US$80.6 million, up 3.4% compared to QI/2015. In spite of the increase in export value, the number of enterprises engaged in exporting pangasius to the U.S. decreased due to high anti-dumping tax. Since the early 2016, the export price of pangasius to the U.S. was affected by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s catfish inspection program.
In the next quarters, Vietnam pangasius exports to this market predicted to decrease due to the main reasons above.
The EU
In QI/2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the EU achieved US$63.6 million, down 6.8% year on year. In particular, among 4 largest importers in the EU bloc, exports to Spain and German picked up 17.9% and 4.4%, respectively, while exports to the Netherlands and the UK took a year-on-year dip of 13% and 22.5%, respectively.
In QII and QIII of 2016, pangasius exports to the EU are predicted to continue the growth of less than 10% over the same period of 2015. Currently, Vietnam pangasius is competing with some white fish species in the EU market. The price of Vietnam pangasius is more competitive than those of these species. Building and promoting the image, prestige of Vietnam pangasius is always prioritized to combat unfair competition through campaign of smear Vietnamese pangasius via mass media.
China - Hong Kong
Through Mar 2016, pangasius exports of Vietnam to the market touched US$25.4 million, up 32.6% over the same period of 2015. In QII/2016, thanks to stable demand, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China - Hong Kong are expected to increase by 20%-35% over the same period in 2015.
According to the ITC, in 2015, imports of whitefish products into China were relatively stable. In particular, products of frozen Alaska pollock made up the highest proportion of 40-65%; followed by frozen cod with 25-43%; frozen haddock with 6-7%; pangasius and catfish with 1.5 to 4% of total whitefish imports into China.
Brazil
After a continuous decline in export value in 2015, as of mid-Mar 2016, Vietnam pangasius export to Brazil reached US$17.2 million, up 761.5% from the same period last year. In QI/2015, pangasius exports to Brazil were stalled due to the temporary ban imposed by Brazil's Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA) on Vietnamese pangasius. Then, since Apr 2015, the MPA allowed to grant import license of seafood products from Vietnam after a pause. Therefore, Vietnam pangasius exports to the market posted the sharp increase in the first 3 months of 2016.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy
(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.
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