Over the past 8 years, the export value of pangasius to the Korean market has remained at average growth. Currently, South Korea is the 51st largest pangasius importer out of nearly 120 importers of Vietnam.
In May 2015, Vietnam and South Korea officially signed VKFTA. This agreement took effect from December 20, 2015. With the agreed content, many experts believe that this Agreement will bring positive impacts to Vietnamese seafood exporters, especially for shrimp and cephalopod exporters. But in fact, the export of Vietnam's seafood products to the Korean market has not grasped and taken advantage of preferential tariffs from this FTA.
With pangasius and basa fish products, which have not been known by many Korean consumers and importers, there are still no effects of VKFTA to help pangasius export to this market grow more. So far, Korean customers remain loyal to seafood and shrimp products.
Koreans consume a diverse of products: anchovies, shrimp, squid, tuna, Alaska Pollack, mackerel, yellow corvina, Pacific saury, flatfish, monk fish, eels, rock fish and cod fish ... The fisheries industry of Korea is trying to change consumers' perceptions of seafood products (healthier than red meat). This will be the key to expanding domestic demand in the future. Currently, the import rate of white fish products begin to increase in the country's seafood import structure.
The import rate of Korean pangasius products accounts for only 0.1 to 0.45% of this country's total import value. Meanwhile, the import value of Alaska pollack accounts for 59-62% of the total value of white fish. Russia and the US are the two largest suppliers of white fish products for the Korean market, accounting for 75% and 20% of the total import value respectively. Vietnam is the third largest supplier with the strength of frozen fillet pangasius and basa products. Alaska pollack and cod fish are two popular products in the Korean market. These are products that attract consumer tastes of Korea.
As analyzed above, the perception of Korean consumers is gradually changing, customers are also beginning to look for seafood products that replace red meat products with many health benefits. Therefore, it is forecasted that there will be room for white fish products in the future, including Vietnamese pangasius and basa fish. The average import tariff rate of Korea applied to fresh and chilled pangasius and basa fish (HS 030432) is 11.9% and frozen pangasius is 7.9.%. Currently, the average import prices of pangasius products of Korea range from US$4.4 to US$4.95 / kg (according to ITC's calculations). Pangasius exports to this market might increase in the time to come. However, at present, Korea is still "vague" with Vietnamese pangasius and basa fish products.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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