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.
(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.
(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.
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