Export growth in key markets
According to Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports in April 2025 reached nearly USD 175 million, up 4% year-on-year. Cumulatively, the first four months of 2025 saw pangasius exports hit USD 640 million, a 10% increase over the same period last year.
China and Hong Kong remain Vietnam’s largest pangasius buyers. Exports to this market reached over USD 44 million in April, up 7% from April 2024. However, the year-to-date total was slightly down, at USD 149 million, a 2% decline.
The U.S. continued to be the second-largest destination for Vietnamese pangasius despite a 15% drop in April exports to USD 40 million. Total exports to the U.S. for the first four months of 2025 stood at USD 101 million, a modest 2% decrease.
Brazil has maintained its status as a major single-country market, particularly for frozen pangasius fillets. Exports in April reached USD 15 million, a 9% increase, while the year-to-date total surged to USD 63 million—up 67% from the same period last year.
In Europe, exports continued their positive trajectory, up 9% in April to USD 16 million. The Netherlands remains the leading EU market for Vietnamese pangasius, with USD 17 million in exports over the first four months of 2025—a 15% year-on-year increase.
Thailand also posted steady growth. April exports to the market totaled USD 5 million, up 5%, and reached USD 25 million for the January–April period, up 18% year-on-year.
Short-term boost amid tariff uncertainty
Despite the cloud of retaliatory tariffs imposed by the U.S., Vietnamese exporters have taken advantage of a temporary window to push shipments. On April 3, 2025 (Vietnam time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports from over 180 economies. Vietnam was among those hardest hit, facing a proposed tariff rate of up to 46%, threatening key export sectors—especially seafood.
On April 9, however, Trump announced a 90-day suspension of these tariffs for over 75 countries, including Vietnam. This reprieve is seen as a critical window for bilateral negotiations and the potential to reach a more favorable long-term arrangement. While the pause has relieved short-term pressure, uncertainty still looms over the future trade landscape.
Broader impacts of trade conflict
The long-term effects of a U.S.-led trade war under the “America First” policy are expected to be extensive, impacting global supply chains, input costs, capital flows, inflation, and monetary policies worldwide. Vietnam, with its highly open economy and heavy dependence on exports, is especially vulnerable. Any U.S. tariff shock is likely to have a domino effect across sectors—including seafood and pangasius.
Strategic response and diversification
To avoid being caught off-guard by trade policy shifts, Vietnamese enterprises are being urged to diversify their markets and expand domestic consumption of pangasius. In parallel, investment in other whitefish export products such as tilapia and red tilapia may offer new growth avenues and help reduce exposure to U.S. trade risks.
While pangasius exports may enjoy short-term momentum, navigating the U.S. tariff storm will require strategic adaptation, market diversification, and strengthened domestic value chains to ensure long-term sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
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
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