China, the U.S., and Brazil lead import markets
By market, China continued to be the largest destination for Vietnamese pangasius. In February 2026, exports to China reached USD 26 million, up 19% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months, exports totaled USD 94 million, surging 86%, mainly driven by increased imports ahead of the Lunar New Year.
The United States ranked second among import markets. In February 2026, pangasius exports to the U.S. reached USD 18 million, down 19% year-on-year. For the first two months, exports totaled USD 38 million, down slightly 5%. This decline partly reflects slower consumption and cautious sentiment among importers amid changes in U.S. tariff policies.
Brazil ranked third, with exports in February reaching USD 10 million, down 27% year-on-year. However, cumulative exports to this market in the first two months still reached USD 29 million, up 8%.
Other major market groups
Exports to CPTPP markets in February 2026 reached USD 22 million, down 7% year-on-year. Nevertheless, thanks to strong results in January, cumulative exports to this bloc in the first two months reached USD 59 million, up more than 23% compared to the same period in 2025.
Meanwhile, exports to the EU reached USD 11 million in February, down slightly 5% year-on-year. For the first two months, exports to the EU totaled USD 26 million, up 7%, indicating that demand in this region is maintaining a stable recovery trend.
Several other markets also showed positive growth signals. Thailand recorded USD 15 million in imports during the first two months, up 18%. Colombia saw the strongest growth, increasing by more than 100% year-on-year. In contrast, Canada recorded a slight decline both in February and over the two-month period.
Export product structure
In terms of product structure, pangasius products under HS code 03 continued to dominate total export value. In the first two months of 2026, frozen/dried pangasius (excluding HS0304) reached USD 52 million, up 22%, indicating stable demand for these products.
Meanwhile, value-added pangasius products (HS16) reached USD 6 million in the first two months of 2026, down 14% year-on-year. Although this segment accounts for a smaller share of total exports, it is considered to have strong long-term potential as consumer trends in many markets shift toward processed and convenient products.
Outlook and challenges
The export growth of pangasius in the first two months of 2026 was mainly driven by strong performance in January, while February showed signs of slowing. Exports to the U.S. declined by 19%, and several other markets also recorded slight decreases due to disruptions caused by the Lunar New Year holiday.
Meanwhile, China maintained solid growth of 19%, continuing to be a key driver of Vietnam’s pangasius exports in the early part of the year. However, the outlook ahead still presents several challenges. In the EU, while supply of whitefish is tightening, countries such as China and Brazil are increasing exports of tilapia, making the mid-range segment more competitive for Vietnamese pangasius.
In addition, ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to raise the risk of disruptions to maritime shipping routes and increase logistics costs, which could affect import demand and delivery schedules for seafood products in this region and globally in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
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