According to data from Vietnam Customs, the export value of value-added pangasius to the US exceeded $2 million in November 2024, marking a staggering 4,270% year-on-year increase (equivalent to 42 times higher) compared to November 2023. During the first 11 months of 2024, exports of these products to the US reached over $12 million, a 2,182% surge (equivalent to 21 times higher) compared to the same period last year.
This achievement represents the highest export value for value-added pangasius in the past decade since 2015. Previously, 2022 had recorded the highest value of pangasius exports to the US, driven by a surge in demand as the US reopened post-COVID-19, leading to significant import volumes during the first half of the year. However, the rapid surge in imports resulted in supply exceeding demand, leaving excess inventory throughout 2023. The subsequent economic downturn, declining consumer demand, and tightened spending further slowed the clearance of inventory, leading to a substantial drop in pangasius export value to the US in 2023. That year is considered the most challenging for Vietnam's pangasius export sector in a decade.
In the first 11 months of 2024, the US primarily imported value-added pangasius products from Vietnam under HS Code 16041990. These include frozen breaded pangasius fingers (25g size), breaded pangasius fillets, frozen breaded pangasius nuggets, and similar products. Exports under this code accounted for 99.9% of the total value-added pangasius export value to the US during this period, generating $12.4 million.
Five companies dominated exports under HS Code 16041990 to the US in the first 11 months of 2024. Van Duc Tien Giang led with a 74% share, followed by Bien Dong Seafood (13%), NTFS Seafood (12%), Vinh Hoan (2%), and SKYEX (0.0002%).
Other value-added pangasius products exported to the US include those under HS Code 16042099 (e.g., frozen pangasius skewers, crispy fried pangasius skin snacks); HS Code 16042030 (e.g., frozen boiled pangasius balls, frozen pangasius fish cakes); and HS Code 16042091 (e.g., frozen breaded and fried pangasius portions).
In addition to frozen fillets, which remain the primary export, value-added pangasius products should receive more robust promotion and strategic positioning in international markets. This approach is vital for strengthening the global presence of Vietnamese pangasius.
The outlook for 2025 appears promising, with expectations that the export value of value-added pangasius will build on the momentum of 2024 and achieve further growth.
(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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