After a slowdown in the Q3/ 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China rebounded strongly in October 2025, recording the highest monthly value since the beginning of the year. However, the ability to maintain this momentum will depend heavily on domestic consumption trends in China and the level of competition from other seafood products in the region.
Vietnamese exporters are facing mounting pressure in the Chinese market. Chinese tilapia - a lower-priced whitefish substitute - is being aggressively pushed into the domestic market after encountering persistent export difficulties. Following the meeting between China and the United States leaders on October 30, Washington announced a reduction in import duties on Chinese tilapia from 55% to 45% and a suspension of new retaliatory tariffs until November 2026. Despite the 10% tariff cut, the overall duty level remains prohibitive, severely limiting access to the U.S. market. As a result, China is highly likely to prioritize domestic consumption of its tilapia surplus throughout Q4, increasing direct competitive pressure on frozen Vietnamese pangasius fillets.
Nevertheless, China remains a key market for Vietnam’s pangasius industry. Demand for frozen pangasius fillets remains stable, supported by competitive pricing that aligns well with mass-market segments. In addition, Vietnam benefits from geographic proximity, with significantly lower logistics costs compared to more distant markets, giving local exporters a notable competitive edge.
However, long-term reliance on traditional destinations such as China leaves the sector vulnerable to policy shifts in importing countries. With China’s domestic production rising and demand for standard frozen fillets showing signs of plateauing, Vietnam’s pangasius sector needs to accelerate product diversification offerings for this market. Beyond traditional frozen fillets, expanding into further-processed and value-added products could help exporters improve margins, mitigate risks, and compete more effectively over the long term.
At the same time, the industry must sustain growth in China while aggressively expanding into alternative markets to lower concentration risk. This dual-track approach is essential for ensuring stable outlets and fostering sustainable development in the coming years. In the final two months of 2025, pangasius exports to China are expected to continue growing as consumption typically rises during the festive season.
(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.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
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