Regarding broodstock, there are currently over 240,000 broodfish ready for spawning. Of these, 180,000 were selected from commercial fish stocks, and 60,000 are high-quality pangasius transferred by the Research Institute for Aquaculture II under the 2016-2020 breeding program (40,000 have spawned, and 20,000 are first-time spawners).
By the end of October 2024, fry production reached 25.95 billion, and fingerling production totaled 3.9 billion.
For commercial farming, the total farming area in 2024 is estimated at 5,370 hectares, equivalent to 95% of the 2023 figure). The new farming area added annually during 2020-2024 remained stable at 5,200-5,800 hectares, except for a significant reduction in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The harvest yield for 2024 is projected at 1.67 million tons, approximately 99% of the 2023 level.
Forecast and development strategies for the pangasius sector in 2025
Climate change and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, combined with shifts in the Mekong River’s water resources, will have significant impacts on pangasius farming. Feed costs, the highest proportion of farming expenses, are under pressure due to declining supplies of fishmeal and fish oil.
Meanwhile, countries like Indonesia, India, and China are expanding their production of pangasius and similar products, creating fierce competition, particularly in key markets such as the EU, the US, Japan, and the GCC.
The pangasius sector's 2025 targets include:
- Production volume: 1.65 million tons
- Export revenue: $2 billion
To achieve these goals, several key measures need to be implemented:
- Improving broodstock: Continue selective breeding to enhance quality, focusing on salinity tolerance and disease resistance.
- Feed innovation: Research alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil, such as plant-based materials, insects, microalgae, microbial protein, and seaweed.
- Recycling by-products: Increase recycling of processing by-products, excluding pangasius-derived products for feed.
- Technology application: Pilot Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in broodstock farms to improve survival rates and biosecurity.
- Brand building: Enhance technology, enforce strict quality control, and secure certifications for food safety, environmental sustainability, and greenhouse gas emissions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
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