Vietnam’s Pangasius Exports Look to the UK, Japan, and EU for New Growth Momentum

China surges, the US declines, and Brazil makes a strong breakthrough

China emained Vietnam’s largest pangasius export market. In the first nine months, exports to China reached US$480 million, up 28% year on year. September exports totaled US$63 million, an increase of 25%.

The US remained the second-largest market, but exports fell 13% in the first nine months to US$225 million. In September, exports to the US reached US$21 million, down 8% year on year. The decline was narrower than the average recorded over the first nine months.

Brazil ranked third, with exports reaching US$144 million in the first nine months, up 15%. September exports to Brazil totaled US$20 million, surging 98% year on year, nearly doubling the value recorded in September 2025.

CPTPP markets: UK exports surge in September

Vietnam’s pangasius exports to CPTPP markets reached US$295 million in the first nine months, up 11% and accounting for 17% of total export value. In September, exports to the bloc totaled US$31 million, an increase of 6% year on year.

Within the bloc, the UK stood out as a bright spot. September exports to the UK reached US$7 million, up 95% year on year, while cumulative exports for the first nine months totaled US$57 million, an increase of 28%.

Japan also recorded solid growth. Exports to Japan reached US$5 million in September, up 15%, bringing the nine-month total to US$41 million, an increase of 20%.

By contrast, exports to Mexico fell 18% to US$5 million in September, although cumulative exports for the first nine months still rose 5% to US$57 million.

EU market: double-digit growth

Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the EU reached US$148 million in the first nine months, up 12% year on year. In September, export value to the bloc totaled US$18 million, an increase of 27%.

The Netherlands, one of the EU markets among Vietnam’s ten largest pangasius export destinations, recorded US$36 million in imports from Vietnam during the first nine months, up 2%. However, September exports to the Dutch market fell 11% year on year to US$3 million.

Product structure

In the first nine months of 2026, pangasius products classified under HS Chapter 03 generated US$1.7 billion, accounting for 98% of total export value and increasing 11% year on year.

Frozen pangasius fillets under HS code 0304 reached US$1.4 billion, up 13%. Meanwhile, frozen or dried pangasius products cut into pieces, as well as whole fish classified under HS Chapter 03 excluding HS 0304, totaled US$275 million, representing growth of just 1.4%.

Value-added pangasius products under HS Chapter 16 generated US$33 million, accounting for 2% of total export value, down 13% year on year.

Pangasius export outlook for the rest of 2026

Stable supply is essential amid tight whitefish availability. Global whitefish supplies remain tight, creating an opportunity for pangasius to gain market share as an affordable alternative. To capitalize on this opportunity, exporters need to secure a stable supply of raw materials in terms of volume, quality, and price. This will help them honor delivery commitments to importers, particularly in the fourth quarter, when buyers typically prepare inventories for the year-end holiday season.

The US market faces additional pressure from the POR21 results. The anti-dumping duty rates for companies subject to the review increased significantly compared with the preliminary results announced in February 2026. This development could raise the cost of accessing the US market and continue to put pressure on exports during the final months of the year, following a 13% decline in shipments to the market during the first nine months.

Exporters need to diversify their markets. China, the US, and Brazil currently account for approximately 49% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value, while China alone represented nearly 30% of total export value in September. This concentration leaves exports vulnerable to changes in trade policies or demand in any major market.

Alongside consolidating their positions in China and Brazil, exporters should step up efforts to develop growing markets such as the UK, Japan, the EU, and the Middle East. Product diversification will also be important in reducing dependence on any single market or product category.