What will the price of pangasius be if it is subject to additional reciprocal taxes
When adding the tax, the product price still fluctuates around 50-60 cents/pound - which is still much lower than that of popular white fish such as cod or pollock. This fact shows that pangasius still maintains a competitive advantage in price, a very important factor in the context of American consumers increasingly tightening their spending after the pandemic and high inflation.
Pangasius is one of the few seafood products that is both reasonably priced and flexible in processing, suitable for many consumer segments from restaurants, industrial kitchens to family retail channels.
The real value of pangasius and the adaptability of the US market
It is worth noting that Vietnam's pangasius is increasingly gaining a stronger position on the American dining table - not only in the Asian community but also in the general consumer segments. From a market perspective, this reflects the level of "attachment" of pangasius to consumers and shows that the price increase is not an insurmountable barrier.
In fact, in the past, pangasius was more expensive than it is now, and the US market still consumed it well. This shows that if the supply chain is organized flexibly and systematically, the new price after tax can be completely absorbed by the market.
Of course, risks still exist. The uncertainty about US trade policy – especially during the Trump administration – makes it difficult to develop long-term business plans. On the other hand, if Vietnamese businesses are proactive in their market strategies, pangasius can still maintain its position in the US as it has done in many previous fluctuations.
Bouncing back from non - US markets
While the US is a large market and has a great influence on the pangasius industry, other bright spots cannot be ignored. The EU market is assessed to have slight growth potential thanks to loose fiscal policies, low inflation, and an appreciating EUR. These factors can all support the purchasing power of imported seafood, including pangasius.
In addition, the reduction of whitefish fishing quotas by many European countries, especially cod, will continue to create room for pangasius to replace. Consumers in this region are already accustomed to consuming frozen fish fillets, and are more likely to accept pangasius products if the price and quality are stable.
Pangasius supply chain: not just about taxes
One of the big problems today is not about prices or taxes – but about being cautious in controlling inventory and managing risks in the supply chain. When policy shocks occur too often, importers are forced to consider worst-case scenarios. This can cause actual transaction volume to be lower than market demand.
Therefore, in addition to expecting a more stable tax policy, the pangasius industry needs to gradually build a value chain with higher “resistance” – from farming areas, processing, logistics to the international distribution system.
Repositioning domestic pangasius – a strategy that needs to go hand in hand
The tax story in the US also reiterates an old but always necessary lesson: Do not depend too much on one market. The domestic market, with nearly 100 million people, is becoming increasingly attractive with rising incomes and changing culinary tastes. The problem is that pangasius has not yet found a suitable place in the country.
Pangasius has a great advantage in terms of price, nutrition and food safety. However, the lack of brand recognition, poor packaging and ineffective distribution make it difficult for the product to compete with other meats or seafood in modern retail channels.
A synchronous campaign is needed, with the participation of the state, enterprises and associations - to bring pangasius back to its rightful position: a national product, able to "stand firm at home" before "conquering" the world.
Vietnamese pangasius is gaining traction in Japan, where competitive prices and reliable supplies have helped the fish enter professional distribution channels and a major sushi chain.
(vasep.com.vn) A circular economy does not create a “new type of shrimp” or a new certification. Its value lies in helping the shrimp value chain use resources more efficiently, stabilize production, generate additional value from by-products and build the data and evidence needed to meet increasingly stringent market requirements. This was the perspective shared by VASEP at the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Forum on Promoting a Circular Economy in the Shrimp Industry in the Mekong Delta, held in Can Tho on September 21.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to CPTPP markets reached $264 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year and accounting for 17% of the nation’s total pangasius export turnover. In August alone, export value reached $34 million, inching up 3%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Golden pompano is being selected as a high-value species for the development of high-tech marine aquaculture in Lam Dong Province. In 2026, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center launched a golden pompano farming model using circular HDPE cages in Lien Huong Commune, opening opportunities to apply technology to marine farming at a scale suited to local coastal conditions.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth momentum is moderating and market divergece is becoming more pronounced, while the US and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global shrimp forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers place greater emphasis on quality, product specifications, supply consistency and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports continued to grow in August 2026, bringing total export value in the first eight months of the year to US$1.5 billion, up 10% year-on-year. August exports alone reached US$205 million, up 6%. However, market performance has become increasingly divergent, with China and Brazil posting positive growth while the U.S. continued to record a sharp decline.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$1.14 billion in August 2026, up 6.4% year on year, bringing the total for the first eight months to more than US$8.0 billion, an increase of 11.9%. Monthly export value remained above US$1 billion, but August growth was only around half the rate recorded cumulatively through the first eight months. This indicates that the eight-month result was supported significantly by stronger performance in earlier months, while market conditions are entering a less predictable period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius is attracting growing interest from Japanese seafood companies as prices of many traditional whitefish species remain high and supply becomes increasingly volatile. Notably, seafood group Kyokuyo has recently continued to feature pangasius among its priority products, highlighting its competitive pricing and stable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As Vietnam’s tilapia industry searches for new growth opportunities, venturing into brackish-water aquaculture could unlock a formidable competitive moat. Bypassing the volume-and-price bloodbath against established global heavyweights, Vietnam could differentiate itself through high-quality tilapia products tailored to specific farming conditions and value-added market segments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be a formidable stress test for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the United States. While exports to alternative markets maintain a resilient growth trajectory, the U.S market has declined significantly. In the first eight months of the year, pangasius exports to the U.S fell by nearly 14% year-on-year, with August alone recording a decline of more than 50%. The trend shows that difficulties in the U.S. market are not driven solely by weak consumer demand, but also by multiple layers of trade barriers that are intensifying simultaneously, particularly additional import tariffs, anti-dumping duties and growing protectionism for the domestic catfish industry.
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