The U.S.
In the first 7 months of 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S. hit US$213.7 million, accounting for 23% of total pangasius exports, up 15.8% from the same period last year. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in the first half of 2016, the import volume into the market jumped up 13% but the value dropped compared to the same period last year. Therefore, the average import price of pangasius into the U.S. fell to US$2.5-2.7 per kilo compared to US$2.8-3.2/kg at the same period last year.
Currently, the import price of frozen pangasius fillets remained relatively low compared with some other whitefish products such as frozen tilapia fillets with US$4.3-4.6/kg; frozen haddock with US$6.3-6.6/kg, fresh/chilled tilapia with US$7.1-7.8/kg. Currently, though the U.S. declined imports of Chinese tilapia and shifted to imports from Brazil, tilapia picked up the largest proportion out of total whitefish imports into the U.S. Concerns about food safety of Chinese tilapia can be an opportunity for other whitefish products in the U.S. market, including Vietnam pangasius.
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.
China – Hong Kong
Through July 2016, out of top 10 largest importers of Vietnam pangasius, exports to China reported the highest growth over the same period last year. In Jan-Jul 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to this market totaled US$140.9 million, taking up 15.2% of total pangasius exports and rising by 65.3%. With this value, China - Hong Kong are increasingly picking up a large proportion in the structure of Vietnam's pangasius exports.
Currently, China mainly imported Vietnam pangasius for its domestic consumption, processing and re-exporting to the U.S. Thus, in the last two years, Vietnam pangasius exports to China showed the two digit growth. So far, China remained high demand for this products thanks to large population and the import standards into this market are not too strict. Despite some risk in exports to the market, China still is a potential market for Vietnam pangasius companies.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
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