From 2019 to 2023, seafood products, including pangasius, was among the top five exports from Vietnam to the US, alongside electronics, textiles, wood products, steel, and plastics. The US has consistently been one of the largest importers of Vietnamese seafood, especially pangasius. Therefore, the election of a new US president, accompanied by new policies, will significantly impact the future strategies of export companies.
Vietnamese seafood products have long been popular in the US market. Vietnam's annual seafood exports reach about $10 billion, with approximately 1.4-1.5 billion USD coming from exports to the US. Notably, Vietnamese pangasius is highly sought after, with the US. being its second-largest importer globally, after China. In 2022 and 2023, pangasius exports from Vietnam reached over 2.4 billion USD and 1.8 billion USD, respectively. Exports to the US during these years amounted to 527 million USD (22% share) and 271 million USD (15% share), respectively. Moreover, recent data from the International Trade Center (ITC) reveals that from February to August 2024, frozen pangasius fillets surpassed frozen tilapia fillets to become the most consumed whitefish product in the US, reflecting a consistent demand for Vietnamese pangasius.
Previously, according to the preliminary results of the 20th administrative review (POR 20), two mandatory respondent companies received an anti-dumping duty rate of $0.00/kg, while six other companies enjoyed for a separate rate of $0.00/kg. These preliminary results are positive for Vietnamese pangasius exporters, with all eight companies under review achieving a zero-duty rate, a decrease from the previous POR 19 rate, which ranged from $0.00/kg to $0.18/kg.
The impact of Trump's policies on Vietnam's pangasius export industry will be twofold. With his “America First” agenda, an increase in import tariffs by 10-20% on all countries, including Vietnam, could reduce the competitiveness of Vietnamese products compared to American domestic goods. On the other hand, if China faces higher tariffs, it could create opportunities for Vietnamese firms to export to the U.S. and gain a larger market share.
According to data from Vietnam Customs, in the first half of October 2024, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the US reached 19 million USD, an 89% increase compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports to the U.S. up to October 15, 2024, amounted to 275 million USD, a 27% increase from the same period in 2023.
In the first nine months of this year, frozen fillets under HS code 0304 remained the primary pangasius product imported by the US from Vietnam, with a value of 245 million USD - up 21% year-over-year and accounting for 96% of the total share.
In contrast to the previous quarter, Q3/2024 saw a positive turnaround in the export of dried and other frozen pangasius products (whole fish, cut portions, fish bladders, etc.) to the US, with a value exceeding 1.3 million USD, marking a 76% year-over-year growth. Exports of these products reached over 3.2 million USD in the first nine months of 2024, increasing by 3% year-over-year and accounting for 1% of the total share.
Notably, in the first nine months of this year, value-added pangasius products exported to the US continued to record impressive growth, with nearly 8 million USD in value - an increase of 1,666% compared to the same period last year, accounting for 3% of the total pangasius export value to the US.
(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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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