In 2014, the import volume of frozen pangasius into Saudi Arabia was larger and higher than the frozen tilapia. According to ITC, the country imported 800-1,725 MT of pangasius from Vietnam each month, most of which were frozen fish fillets (HS code 030462). In addition, the country also imported frozen chilled fish (HS code 030432) with the average volume of 50 - 200 MT/month.
According to ITC, in 2012, Saudi Arabia bought only about 192 MT of frozen pangasius (HS code 030324) with the value of US$365 thousand. After 5 years, the import volume of this item from Vietnam into Saudi Arabia has increased by 57 times and the import value has gone up 49 times to eye nearly 11 thousand MT and US$17.7 million, respectively.
In 2016, imports of pangasius into the market accounted for the largest share in total whitefish imports, followed by tilapia meat (HS code 030493); frozen tilapia (HS code 030323), fresh/chilled tilapia (HS code 030271). In addition, this market also imported some other whitefish products such as fresh/chilled hake (HS code 030254), frozen cod (HS code 030363) and Alaskan pollock meat (HS code 030494).
In 2016, Vietnam held as the largest whitefish supplier to Saudi Arabia, accounting for 43% of total imports into the country, followed by Myanmar, Egypt, Taiwan, Bangladesh and Thailand. In 2016, the import price of pangasius into Saudi Arabia ranged from US$1.45 to US$1.5 per kg, down over 2015.
In QI/2017, Vietnam’s pangasius shipments to the country posted the good signs and Vietnam enterprises tended to shift their exports America, Asia, including Saudi Arabia while there were difficulties exports to large markets such as the U.S, EU.
In the coming time, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Saudi Arabia forecasted to increase by 5-10% over the same period last year, with the export price of US$1.5 to US$1.75 per kilogram.
(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.
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