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) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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