Spain is the biggest importer of pangasius among European countries. According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnamese pangasius export to this destination valued at US$21.5 million in the first quarter of 2013, down of 11.7 percent over the same period of the last year. The drop was not significant compared to the decreasing level recorded in Spain’s imports of other white meat fish species.
Spanish consumers are eating less frozen fish to turn to other sources of protein. In 2012, they bought more meat (including fresh and processed meat products) than the previous year due to its lower price.
In 2012, fish consumption fell down of 12 percent against that of 2011 as prices climbed up, pushing people to cut their expenses. The National Federation of Provincial Associations of Fish and Congealed Products Retail (Fedepesca) reported that, in 2012, Spanish fish consumption decreased of 1.2 percent in volume and 1.6 percent in value compared to 2011.
With a coast of over 8,000 kilometers, Spain has a developed fishing industry, but it still depends on imports, as wild fish catch does not satisfy domestic demand. Imported fish products make up 50 percent of Spain’s yearly consumption. Pangasius was one of the key imported items, because of reasonable price, during the tough economic time.
According to Mercabarna Food Wholesale Center, in April 2013, frozen pangasius fillets priced averagely at EUR2.4 per kilogram, higher than that of two previous months. Some importers predicted that the fish price will be maintained on these values in May.
It will be hard for Vietnamese companies to boost exports of pangasius to Spain in 2013 because the country continues to sink deeper into economic recession. The Central Bank of Spain predicted that the economy will shrink of 1.5 percent this year after reporting a 1.4 percent drop in 2012.
Currently, Spain has low demand for buying pangasius for domestic inventory but some importers says that they still need to purchase pangasius from Vietnam to supply Spanish households who still consider the fish as an important part in their daily foodstuff thanks to its affordable price. Imports are hoped to recover in 2014 when the country should go out of economic downturn.
(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.
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