Malaysia was also the third largest importer of Vietnam pangasius among ASEAN markets. To 15th October, pangasius export to this destination reached US$17.1 million, a rise of 2.6 percent over the same period of 2011.
Malaysia has now 28 million of people and the market tends to increase seafood import to satisfy rising domestic consumption demand.
This year, South East Asian countries are under pressures of global economic crisis, but Malaysia is seen as a stable market. Its import of seafood products continues to grow in the coming time.
Crustaceans (HS code 0306) were the main import items of Malaysia. This is followed by frozen fish (HS code 0303), fresh fish (HS code 0302), and frozen fish fillets (HS code 0304). Frozen fish fillets just took the fourth largest part in seafood import structure of the country, but getting the fastest growth rate during the period of 2005 – 2012.
According to statistics from International Trade Center (ITC), Malaysia bought US$862.1 million of all fish and seafood products in 2011. In which, China was the biggest supplier. Imports from Vietnam valued at US$ 45.3 million, higher than that in almost every year since 2004. In 2007, Vietnamese exporters earned US$48.8 million from fish sales to this country.
Vietnam is now Malaysia’s fourth provider of seafood products, but it occupies the first place among suppliers of frozen fish fillets to the market. In 2011, shipment of these items brought back US$26.7 million for the country.
Beside imported fish, Malaysia also focuses on developing local fish aquaculture. Malaysia aims to reach 80,000 MT of farmed-fish production during 5 years to respond to domestic demand and export. So that, the country can double seafood export and compete with other producing countries in ASEAN like Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.
|
TOP TEN SEAFOOD SUPPLIERS TO MALAYSIA, US$ mil. (Source: ITC) |
||||||||
|
Origin |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
China |
63.193 |
94.998 |
108.632 |
117.985 |
90.984 |
162.407 |
222.333 |
273.444 |
|
Indonesia |
65.673 |
65.362 |
64.863 |
93.293 |
98.957 |
103.189 |
123.838 |
156.407 |
|
Thailand |
105.717 |
92.897 |
95.487 |
99.339 |
90.517 |
88.884 |
97.503 |
120.385 |
|
Vietnam |
37.560 |
27.998 |
43.034 |
48.859 |
32.636 |
27.718 |
26.435 |
45.328 |
|
Myanmar |
22.418 |
26.487 |
30.892 |
29.570 |
29.586 |
31.450 |
35.146 |
39.595 |
|
India |
30.407 |
45.409 |
31.377 |
29.467 |
22.714 |
23.795 |
29.127 |
39.343 |
|
Japan |
5.810 |
5.510 |
7.787 |
10.230 |
14.692 |
14.166 |
18.990 |
19.842 |
|
Norway |
4.547 |
4.560 |
8.122 |
10.146 |
10.405 |
11.252 |
14.552 |
18.068 |
|
Pakistan |
13.793 |
11.837 |
12.152 |
12.977 |
13.331 |
13.853 |
10.776 |
17.409 |
|
Mexico |
3.102 |
5.142 |
6.097 |
7.164 |
5.593 |
9.601 |
7.498 |
16.606 |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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