According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to South Korea reached nearly US$3 million between January and June 2013, up 32 percent against the same half of 2012. This period, Korean imported about 495,350 MT of seafood products (HS code 03) valued at US$1.509 billion, compared to 508,536 MT and US$1.598 billion in the first six months of 2012, according to International Trade Center (ITC). In the second quarter of 2013, there were 251,193 MT of fish products introduced into the market, up 2.88 percent on that of the first quarter. Vietnam was Korea’s third supplier after China and Russia, with 23,160 MT of seafood products, up 10.9 percent from Q.I/2013.
With a rise in pangasius exports, Vietnam has passed China to be the leading partner of South Korea in frozen fish fillets segment since 2010. The ITC stated that Korea purchased 46,170 MT of frozen fish fillets from Vietnam. The figure soared to 68,051 MT in 2012. China ranked second with 46,068 MT in 2010, but the volume fell to 21,391 MT in 2012.
Vietnam, China, Russia and the U.S. were the four leading suppliers of frozen fish fillets to South Korea. In 2012, Vietnam ranked first with 116,865 million, madding up the 30.6 percent of Korean total imports of this kind of product. The U.S. with 11.5 percent of share followed it. Both Russia and China made up 10.5 percent of the total. Though being the second provider in terms of volume, China just ranked fourth in terms of value.
Koreans consume different fish products and in different form: live, fresh, salted or frozen fish in order of preference. They assume that live and fresh fish taste better than frozen ones after cooking. Accordingly, fresh or chilled fish tend to be more expensive than the frozen one.
Consumption of seafood and pangasius products is expected to be stable in the coming time because Korean consumers seen these products as a high nutrition source.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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