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) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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