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) 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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