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
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Lithuania surpassed $14 million, up 8% year on year. While the increase remains modest, it is notable given the continued pressure on Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU as a whole. More importantly, export turnover to Lithuania has shown a clearer recovery in recent months, making the market a destination worth monitoring for Vietnamese businesses in Europe.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn