In June 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil reached US$14 million, down 11% from the same period in 2025. In the first six months of the year, export value totaled US$88 million, down 6% year on year.
Monthly figures show fluctuations in Brazil’s import demand. After surging 47% in January, exports fell 34% in February and 41% in March. The market recovered in the second quarter, with exports rising 13% in April and 2% in May, before declining again by 11% in June. This pattern indicates that demand in Brazil remains present, but has yet to establish a stable growth trajectory.
Frozen fillets remain the leading product
The export structure shows that frozen fillets account for virtually all of Vietnam’s pangasius export value to Brazil. In the first half of the year, frozen pangasius fillets generated more than US$88 million, representing approximately 99% of total pangasius exports to the Brazilian market.
This confirms that frozen fillets remain the preferred choice among Brazilian importers and continue to be a clear strength of Vietnamese pangasius exporters in this market. The product benefits from convenience, ease of storage and compatibility with Brazil’s food distribution and processing systems.
Meanwhile, fresh, frozen or dried whole pangasius and cut portions have yet to establish a significant presence. In Q2 2026, exports of these products totaled only around US$9,000, accounting for just 0.1% of total export value. For the first six months as a whole, their value stood at approximately US$18,000.
Strong demand but cautious growth
Overall, Brazil remains a market with significant demand for Vietnamese frozen pangasius fillets, but first-half results indicate that growth is slowing. The 6% decline in H1 and 11% drop in June are signals that exporters should monitor closely, although they are not yet sufficient to confirm a long-term downward trend.
Going forward, frozen fillets are likely to remain the main pangasius product in Brazil. Vietnamese exporters will need to maintain their advantages in price, quality and supply stability, while also exploring processed and value-added products.
The very small share of whole fish and cut portions also indicates considerable room for product diversification in Brazil. Developing new product segments could help exporters reduce their dependence on frozen fillets while increasing the value of Vietnamese pangasius exports to the market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Brazil remains one of the key markets for Vietnamese pangasius in South America. However, exports to the market showed signs of slowing in the first half of 2026, while frozen pangasius fillets continued to account for the overwhelming majority of exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Marking 27 years of supporting Vietnam’s seafood industry, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (VIETFISH 2026) will officially return from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, on its largest scale ever. Under the core theme “Innovation – Sustainability,” the event promises to provide a comprehensive picture of the transformation of Vietnam’s seafood industry toward greater value addition and sustainable development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than three weeks remaining, the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability," Vietfish 2026 will provide a comprehensive networking platform for seafood businesses, buyers, distributors, industry experts, government agencies, and domestic and international visitors.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the technical seminar “Green and Sustainable Technology Solutions for the Aquaculture and Seafood Processing Value Chain” will take place from 09:30 to 11:45 on August 20, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The seminar is jointly organized by VASEP, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, focusing on technological innovation and sustainable transformation across Vietnam’s seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
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