Some European importers said that the price for raw pangasius has been falling down as the market saw full supply of other whitemeat fishes, which drove prices to a lower level. Additionally, negative allegation and bad rumors about pangasius has been running through the market, affecting consumers’ confidence on Vietnamese pangasius.
The Netherlands is Vietnam’s second biggest pangasius importer in the EU, after Spain. According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, exports to this country valued at US$31.3 million in the first half of 2013, 18.8 percent down from those in the same time of 2012. This was the deepest fall among the EU’s four leading markets of pangasius.
With a volume of 62,556 MT, frozen fish (HS code 0303) made up the major part in Dutch imports of seafood products, according to statistics by International Trade Center (ITC). It was followed by frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304) with 39,645 MT. The rest was fresh fish, mollusk and dried products.
In 2012, among frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304), frozen pangasius fillets were the most imported products into the Netherlands with a volume of 20,910 MT. Frozen Alaska pollock fillets ranked second with 13,906 MT followed by frozen cod fillets with 11,666 MT.
In the first quarter of 2013 cod, passed pangasius to be the leading fish in the Netherlands because the country strengthened imports of cod reducing pangasius volume. During this period, Dutch buyers sourced 9,509 MT of frozen cod fillets, compared to 6,418 MT registered in the same period of last year. Purchase of frozen pangasius fillets and frozen Alaska pollock fillets were 4,931 MT and 3,302 MT, compared to 5,213 MT and 4,124 MT reported in Q.I/2012.
Dutch imports of cod’s products, rose mainly because there were a larger cod production which caused a decreasing price. This trend partly impacted the selling prices of other whitemeat fish species and pangasius in particular. Furthermore, high supply and lower prices would make cod products the first choice of importers, especially when cod was a traditional and favourist fish for Dutch consumers.
In Q.I/2013, the Netherlands imported 39,645 MT of frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304), compared to 38,031 MT in Q.I/2012; 6,874 MT of which came from Iceland, up from 4,977 MT registered a year ago. Vietnam was the second supplier of the Netherlands with 5,086 MT, decreasing from 5,385 MT in Q.I/2012.
In 2012, there were 124,126 MT of frozen fish fillets imported into Dutch market, 16 percent less than those of the previous year. Imports from main suppliers - including Vietnam, China and Norway - plummeted. Vietnam was the biggest supplier with a volume of 21,355 MT of fish, down 20.4 percent; China ranked second with 16,547 MT, down 20.5 percent; and then Norway with 11,730 MT, down nearly 25 percent.
European countries are predicted not to go out of economic crisis in the current year; therefore Dutch buyers are finding new sources of alternative fish with high quality and reasonable price to serve their consumption demand, compensating short supply of some white meat fish species forecasted to last until the end of 2013. In this situation, pangasius may be the first choice of local consumers among imported fish products.
(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.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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