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.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
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