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) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn