Vietnamese pangasius, with its low cost and stable quality, is ideal for Brazil’s middle-and lower-income segments

News 09:08 23/04/2025
Beyond frozen pangasius fillets, value-added products like fish cakes, fish balls, and peeled IQF shrimp can meet the demand for convenience in urban supermarkets and restaurants. Compared to premium products from Chile or the EU, Vietnamese seafood offers a price advantage, enabling market share expansion as Brazil prioritizes affordable imports.

 

Relaxed import standards

Previously, Brazil’s strict standards on additives and phosphates posed challenges for Vietnamese pangasius. Brazil’s consideration of aligning with international norms reduces compliance costs and facilitates exports of deeply processed products like breaded pangasius. This diversifies product offerings and boosts export value. Bilateral trade cooperation

Vietnam and Brazil aim to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion by 2025 and $15 billion by 2030. As Vietnam’s largest trade partner in South America, Brazil offers opportunities for seafood businesses to expand market share. Negotiations with MERCOSUR, of which Brazil is a member, could lead to tax incentives, enhancing Vietnam’s competitiveness against India and Thailand.

Market diversification

Amid geopolitical risks and high tariffs in the U.S. and China, Brazil is a strategic destination for Vietnam to reduce reliance on traditional markets. With 26 companies, including Hung Ca, Cadovimex, Nam Viet, and Hoang Long, operating in Brazil, Vietnam has a solid foundation to deepen market penetration.

Challenges 

Seafood exports to Brazil face several hurdles. A ban on importing whole frozen shrimp limits product diversification. Since February 14, 2024, Brazil has suspended tilapia imports due to concerns over the TiLV virus, and potential expanded controls on pangasius warrant caution. Complex administrative procedures and competition from India, Ecuador, and Indonesia require Vietnamese firms to improve quality and meet sustainability certifications like ASC and BAP.

Recommendations for Businesses

To maximize opportunities in Brazil, Vietnamese companies should:

  • Monitor import regulations, particularly on phosphates and quarantine, to adapt products accordingly.
  • Invest in deep processing, developing value-added products like seasoned pangasius and fish cakes for the convenience segment.
  • Engage in trade promotion, leveraging trade fairs and support from Vietnam’s Trade Office to build brand presence.
  • Ensure sustainability certifications, meeting Brazil’s stringent requirements for traceability and environmental standards.

vietnam brazil mercosur seafood trade opportunities challenges recommendations

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain double

 |  09:52 21/04/2026

(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.

2026 shrimp season in the Mekong Delta starts early: Growth expected amid multiple challenges

 |  09:00 18/04/2026

(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.

Vietnamese tilapia in the U.S.: Great opportunities, but significant challenges

 |  16:35 16/04/2026

(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.

Pangasius shifts from “volume” to “value” in 2026

 |  08:32 15/04/2026

(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.

Gia Lai restores shrimp farming after storm, prepares for 2026 season

 |  08:29 14/04/2026

(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.

Promoting livelihood transition to reduce pressure on fisheries exploitation

 |  10:46 10/04/2026

(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.

High technology drives transformation of Vietnam’s shrimp industry

 |  10:38 08/04/2026

(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.

An Giang targets stable shrimp production in 2026

 |  10:11 03/04/2026

(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.

Circular economy opens new pathway to enhance pangasius value

 |  10:11 31/03/2026

(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.

Vietnam’s scallop exports surge amid global supply chain restructuring

 |  09:16 29/03/2026

(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

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

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC