In 1997–1998, Vietnam’s pangasius industry was just taking its first steps, embarking on a journey to establish its presence in the global market. With an export value of nearly $1.7 million, equivalent to 425 tons in 1997, pangasius was a novel product—a white-fleshed, flavorful, and nutritious catfish—introduced to the world. During this period, exports primarily targeted neighboring Asian markets such as China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. Notably, the early years were considered a “golden era” for pricing, with average export prices ranging from $3.9 to $4.1 per kilogram.
Taking advantage of favorable conditions, pangasius farming in the Mekong Delta transitioned from small-scale operations to industrial production, with cultivation areas exceeding 5,000 hectares. While export turnover during the first five years (1997–2001) reached just over USD 25 million (about 7,000 tons), the following five years (2002–2006) saw a dramatic surge to nearly USD 1.5 billion with close to 600,000 tons exported. Particularly, the 2007–2011 period marked a “great leap,” with total export value reaching USD 7 billion and volume surpassing 2.9 million tons — a historic milestone that solidified Vietnam's pangasius as a prominent player in the global seafood market.
The pangasius industry’s development has been closely tied to the support of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). From an initial membership of 70–98 companies between 1998 and 2000, VASEP has grown to over 300 member enterprises. Under this shared platform, Vietnamese-branded pangasius products have increasingly strengthened their presence in demanding markets such as China, the United States, and the European Union.
However, success has also brought challenges. The competitive quality and pricing of Vietnamese pangasius have raised concerns within the domestic catfish industry in the United States. As a result, Vietnamese pangasius has faced technical barriers such as anti-dumping duties, the USDA’s catfish inspection program, and negative media campaigns from certain Western markets.
Despite these challenges, Vietnam’s pangasius exports maintained impressive growth. In 2008, export revenue reached $1.4 billion for the first time, marking the start of a “billion-dollar” era that lasted over a decade. Although the 2012–2017 period saw a slight slowdown (USD 1.56–1.78 billion annually), a strong recovery was recorded in 2018–2019, with export value exceeding USD 2 billion.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021 led to a downturn, with export value dropping to USD 1.49 billion in 2020 and USD 1.61 billion in 2021. However, the industry rebounded swiftly, achieving a record $2.4 billion in 2022, demonstrating its resilience and adaptability.
In 2023, global economic instability, global economic instability—driven by inflation and the Russia–Ukraine conflict—led to a significant decline in Vietnam’s pangasius exports. By mid-May 2023, export revenue reached only $842 million, a 30% drop compared to the same period in 2022. However, in May 2023, Vietnamese pangasius exports recorded a 10% growth, the first positive increase in months, signaling the beginning of a potential recovery phase.
"Proactive Adaptation
Creative Innovation
Sustainable Development"
It is the key message of the 7th General Assembly (2025–2030) of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), highlighting the continued journey of bringing Vietnamese seafood—especially pangasius—to the global market. The 27-year journey stands as a testament to the resilience and relentless efforts of Vietnam's pangasius industry, evolving from a traditional trade into a key export sector contributing significantly to the country's seafood export value.
Challenges are inevitable, but they also present opportunities for reflection, restructuring, and renewed commitment to sustainable development. Vietnamese pangasius has established, and will continue to reinforce, its indispensable role in the global seafood supply chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
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