In Q1/2025, frozen pangasius fillets under HS code 0304 remained Vietnam’s primary export product to the U.S. This segment generated USD 63 million in revenue, a slight decline of 1% from the same period in 2024, and accounted for 91% of the total pangasius export value to the U.S. Other Vietnamese pangasius products favored by American consumers include frozen fillets, frozen steak or chunk cuts, breaded frozen pangasius, puffed dried pangasius, and fried pangasius skin.
In the first three months of 2025, exports of dried pangasius and other frozen pangasius products (whole fish, chunk cuts, swim bladders, etc.) to the U.S. saw impressive growth of 75%, reaching over USD 1.4 million and accounting for 2% of the total export value.
Most notably, value-added (VA) pangasius exports from Vietnam to the U.S. recorded a dramatic surge in Q1/2025 — an eightfold increase (up 725%) over Q1/2024, reaching USD 5 million and making up 7% of total pangasius exports. American consumers are showing growing interest in value-added pangasius products from Vietnam, beyond the traditional frozen fillets. These compelling figures are providing strong momentum for Vietnamese exporters.
Vietnam’s value-added pangasius continues to gain ground in the U.S.
The average export price of pangasius to the U.S. in the first three months of 2025 consistently rose compared to the same period last year. January recorded the highest price, at USD 3.87/kg — up 47% from January 2024 — and also the highest price to the U.S. since early 2023.
According to the latest data from the International Trade Centre (ITC), in the first two months of 2025, the U.S. imported over USD 386 million worth of whitefish from global markets, up 18% year-on-year. Most of these imports were frozen fillet products under HS code 0304. The top item was frozen tilapia fillets (HS 030461), with import value reaching USD 103 million, up 49% and accounting for 27% of total whitefish imports. This was followed by frozen cod fillets (HS 030471) at USD 96 million (down 5%), representing 25%, and frozen catfish fillets (HS 030462) at USD 56 million, up 16% and accounting for 14%.
Vietnamese pangasius is also facing increasing pressure from new tariff policies imposed by President Trump. For Vietnam — a highly open economy that remains heavily dependent on international trade — any U.S. tariff shifts may trigger a domino effect, negatively impacting exports, including those of seafood and pangasius. It is hoped that pangasius export results in April 2025 will remain stable amid ongoing global economic volatility.
(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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