Seven out of eight main pangasius importers of Vietnam increased their purchase value, including the U.S., ASEAN, Brazil, China and Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Colombia. Only the EU got a drop in import. After four months of drop, pangasius exports to Mexico and Colombia soared up in May 2013 (121.8 percent for Mexico and 53.6 percent for Colombia), leading to a rise in earnings from these two markets in the first five months.
Russia was in the eight leading importers of Vietnamese pangasius between January and May 2012. But exports to Russia in January – May 2013 considerably stumbled causing a step back for the market that has fallen below Saudi Arabia. This period, exports to Saudi Arabia valued at US$23.26 million, up 11 percent from the compatible time of 2012.
Some companies said that decline of tilapia production in some provinces in China will create new opportunities for pangasius in freshwater fish importing markets in the coming time. Currently, sale of tilapia seedlings in several provinces in South China are running well below volumes of 2012. In Guangxi, sales of seedlings are down 30percent to 40percent; in Guangdong they are down 20percent to 30percent. Prolonged rainy and cold weather is disturbing the progress of the seedlings and tilapia production this year. Tilapia production is predicted to fall, as the international market for Chinese tilapia consumption is worrisome. In the first four months of 2013, U.S. imported 42,629 MT of tilapia from all sources, with a worth value of US$201.3 million, down 20 percent in volume and 21 percent in value over the corresponding period of 2012, mainly due to decline in purchase from China.
The EU market continued reducing fish purchase from Vietnam while the U.S. kept the uptrend in import and became the leading consumer of Vietnam pangasius in April and May 2013. Through May 2013, the U.S. was Vietnam’s largest pangasius importer, followed by the EU.
The U.S. accounted for 24 percent in Vietnam’s total earnings from pangasius exports. In January – May 2013, shipment to this destination reached US$170.18 million, up 16 percent over that of 2012. Exports were around US$56.9 million in May 2013, up 72 percent from May 2012 and just saw a drop in February and March. The higher antidumping tax imposed in POR8 could not curb the uptrend. Eight Vietnamese companies receiving the zero-percent duty rate are accelerating shipments of pangasius products to the U.S. In particular, the price of imported pangasius was unchanged in the U.S. market. In June 2013, frozen pangasius fillets 5-7 oz averagely cost was still at US$1.8 per pound, higher than US$1.7 per pound in the first months of the year.
The EU ranked second among pangasius importing countries with a value of US$159 million in January – May 2013, down 15.6 percent on that of 2012 representing 22.4 percent of Vietnam’s total export value. The EU market has still been on a quiet trend and is full of supply of some whitemeat fish species like cod, pushing down prices of cod and other whitemeat fish. A report by the European Commission in early May 2013 said that 17 economies in the euro zone are still falling into stagnation this year while 27 EU member countries will only get growth of 0.1 percent, down 0.3 percent compared to initial predictions. OECD says that the U.S. economy will reach growth of 1.9 percent in 2013 and 2.8 percent in 2014.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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
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