At the end of February 2022, Vietnamese seafood in Russia, including pangasius, must compete more strongly with some other suppliers, such as China, India, and Bangladesh, when this country increases trade due to the effects of the conflict. The Russia-Ukraine conflict affects world shipping and trade settlement processes. China and Russia share a common border, so, understandably, Russia depends more on this supplier instead of choosing other sources of supply that go through maritime areas affected by war.
However, two years after the Russia-Ukraine conflict occurred, despite implementing the policy of increasing exports and reducing imports, for Pangasius, Vietnam is still the number one supplier in Russia. According to Vietnam Customs data, in May 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exports to Russia increased 6.5 times compared to the same period in 2023. By the end of May 2024, cumulative Vietnamese pangasius exports to Russia reached more than 8 million USD, up 35% over the same period last year.
Unlike other markets, Russia almost does not import VAT pangasius products but focuses more on dried pangasius and other frozen products and frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam.
Exports of dried pangasius and other frozen products (HS code 03, except pangasius HS code 0304) to Russia in the first 5 months of this year recorded an increase of 77% over the same period last year. However, Russia's demand for this product is unstable, as it continuously increases and decreases, typically, in May 2024, this country recorded a growth of 8.5 times compared to May 2023 and an increase of 3 times. compared to the previous month, while April 2024 just witnessed a negative growth of 35% compared to the same period in 2023.
Frozen pangasius fillets were still the main product Vietnam exports to Russia, accounting for 80% of the proportion in the first 5 months of this year. In May 2024, exports of frozen pangasius fillets to this market reached more than 2 million USD, an increase of 6.5 times compared to the same period last year. This is also the highest value of frozen pangasius fillet exports to Russia since the beginning of this year.
The top 5 Vietnamese enterprises exporting pangasius to Russia include Que Ky, Nam Viet, Hung Ca, Tran Han, and Van Y, with the following main products: frozen pangasius fillets (HS code 03046200), whole pangasius cut into butterflies (HS code 03032400), frozen cut pangasius fillets (HS code 03046200),...
Cumulatively, for the first 5 months of the years, from 2021 to 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exports to Russia decreased from 17 million USD in the first 5 months of 2021 to 8 million USD in the first 5 months of this year. The war has had a significant impact on pangasius export activities to this market. However, compared to the same period last year, Vietnamese pangasius exports to Russia in the first five months of this year had shown positive signs of recovery.
President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to Vietnam in the last days of June, right at the time the two countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of signing the Treaty on the Basic Principles of Friendly Relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. This event has important significance, further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia in all fields and raising the level of the new situation, especially in the context of the two countries' ongoing efforts to realize the Joint Declaration on the vision of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership until 2030, while opening up new opportunities for export trade, including exporting pangasius to Russia.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
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