Frozen pangasius fillets tend to be imported more strongly than fresh/frozen whole fish. Accordingly, this year, this key product line accounted for 86.5% of the total pangasius export value, reaching nearly $1.9 billion, up 79%; value added pangasius products accounted for 1.5%, reaching 32.7 million USD.
The structure of the pangasius import market this year has changed in proportion. Notably, the increasingly important role of the Chinese market. By the end of October, China accounted for nearly 30% of Vietnam's pangasius export value with over 638 million USD. This is also the market with the most breakthrough growth in pangasius imports, up 106%.
The US is still the second largest pangasius importer, but the proportion of this market decreased compared to the previous year. In the first 10 months of 2022, Vietnam pangasius exports to the US accounted for nearly 23%, reaching $491 million. The export growth of 70% was a breakthrough in the first half of the year, when the US economy had not yet absorbed the blow of inflation.
According to statistics of the US Department of Agriculture, in the first 9 months of 2022, the US imported 104.5 thousand tons of frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam, worth US$445 million, up 24% in volume and 91% in value compared with the same period last year. The average import price of frozen pangasius fillets to the US reached $4.26/kg, up 53%. Compared to other seafood products imported from Vietnam into the US, pangasius has the highest price increase.
Pangasius was the most prosperous export sector in 2022
Recently, the United States Department of Agriculture is asking seafood suppliers to bid for 543,000 pounds of pollock and 154,000 pounds of domestic catfish. This fish stock will be used for the National School Lunch Program and other Federal Food and Nutritional Assistance Programs. Tenders for the supply of catfish were due on November 25. The USDA has given a lot of support to domestic seafood this year to support producers after the COVID-19 crisis devastated the seafood industry.
The EU also recorded an impressive growth in Vietnamese pangasius imports over the past time, up 103% to US$173 million. The strong recovery of the EU has made the EU's market share increase from 7% to 8% of the total export value of Vietnamese pangasius. Key markets in the bloc are the Netherlands, up 72%, Germany up 182% and Belgium up 94%.
An important market in Europe, the UK, although the import value of pangasius still increased by 32% to nearly USD 55 million, but the proportion decreased compared to the previous year. Being in the group of G7 countries, the UK is the slowest recovery market after Covid, and was heavily affected by inflation and the energy and food crisis due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, so the demand for seafood products, even medium or affordable price seafood, also declined.
The CPTPP market still holds the proportion of 13% of Vietnam's pangasius exports with 282 million USD, up 74% over the same period last year. Of which, the weight remains in Mexico and Canada with sales of $92 million and $50 million in the past 10 months, respectively. These two markets both increased imports of Vietnamese pangasius sharply, up 67% and 88% over the same period.
Although the cumulative results in the first 10 months of the year were quite positive, from the end of the third quarter to the fourth quarter, the decline trend in markets was clearly reflected in pangasius export sales. Accordingly, in October, pangasius exports only reached 179 million USD, the lowest level since the Lunar New Year and also the lowest growth since the beginning of the year. There are still many markets that increase pangasius imports, but there are also many markets with a decrease in value such as the US down 11%, Canada down 3%, Colombia down 26%...
Those are signs that inflation is strongly affecting the market demand, which will affect pangasius consumption not only at the end of 2022 but can last until 2023.
However, Vietnam's pangasius export industry is still proud of the record sales of over 2.4 billion USD that will be achieved by the end of 2022.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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