By the end of February 2023, pangasius exports to Germany reached more than US$6.2 million, an increase of 81% over the same period in 2022 and accounted for 2.6% of the total export value of Vietnamese pangasius to markets. The proportion of the German market in the first two months of this year was much higher than that of the same period last year (only 0.9%).
In 2022, Germany is also in the top 2 importing markets of Vietnamese pangasius in the EU after the Netherlands, accounting for 1.2% with nearly 30 million USD, up 37% compared to 2021.
In the first two months of 2023, pangasius under code 0304 (except for fish cakes and surimi products) accounted for 98.3% of total pangasius exports to Germany, while live/fresh/frozen/dried pangasius (under code 03) (except fish under code 0304) accounted for only 1.7%. In these two months, Vietnam has no processed pangasius products to export to Germany, possibly due to the inflation factor that makes consumers tend to pay more attention to frozen products to save costs.
The biggest challenges for the German economy in general and the pangasius market in particular are still the war in Ukraine, the accompanying economic consequences, the weak global economic health, energy and consumer prices. usage as well as the security of energy supplies.
Although the inflation rate has dropped markedly to 8.6%, after 3 consecutive months remaining above 10%, Germany is still among the top countries with the highest inflation rate among major economies. Inflation also changes the seafood consumption trend of the country with Europe's largest economy. Instead of consuming more fresh/chilled seafood, Germans are increasing their consumption of frozen seafood.
As food and energy prices are no longer as high as last year, the overall German inflation rate is expected to fall significantly from March 2023. This can be considered as one of the optimistic signals for Vietnam's pangasius exports to Germany.
Forecast on Vietnam pangasius industry in 2023 - 2025
Thu Hằng
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
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