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) 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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