Inflation in the UK is at a 40-year high and is almost the highest in European countries, consumption of high-priced food items is limited. Therefore, exports of shrimp, tuna and some marine fishes to the UK decreased sharply. Meanwhile, pangasius exports still maintained a growth rate of 16% because pangasius prices were affordable. Moreover the UK was short of white fish due to the ban on seafood from Russia, so pangasius became an alternative in the market, especially for the popular fish & chip industry.
In the UK, rising energy and raw materials costs are causing pressure and heavy damage to the fish & chip industry. According to a recent survey of 410 members of the National Federation of Fried Fish Producers (NFFF), gas and electricity prices have increased by 300%-500%. Europe's energy crisis worsened after Russia closed the Nordstream 1 gas pipeline. On September 5, gas prices in the UK increased by 35%. This situation puts fish & chip shops on the edge of corruption because the capital is under great pressure while prices of cod and haddock and other input costs such as potatoes, sunflower oil have all increased dramatically.
Vietnam pangasius would be a perfect alternative white fish in the UK
Regarding tariff advantages, the FTA with the UK (UKVFTA) has a mechanism to follow the EVFTA agreement with the EU, which means that pangasius has a roadmap to reduce tax to 0% after 3 years. Thus, by 2022, this product will almost be imported into the UK with a tax rate of 0%.
Seafood exports to the UK in the last months of the year are showing more positive signs than at the beginning of the year, especially for pangasius. In August, pangasius exports to the UK more than tripled over the same period last year, reaching over 7 million USD.
Accumulated in the first 8 months of the year, pangasius exports to the UK reached nearly 47 million USD, up 28% over the same period last year. In which, frozen pangasius fillets/cuts account for 79%, processed pangasius accounts for 17%, and whole pangasius accounts for 4%.
With such good growth momentum, Vietnam pangasius exports to the UK is forecasted to reach about $67 million in 2022, up 30% compared to 2021.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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