Vietnam's pangasius exports reach USD 1.1 billion in the first half of 2026

China remains the largest market, accounting for 27% of exports

In June 2026, pangasius exports to China reached USD 53 million, up 5% year-on-year. During the first six months of 2026, exports to China totaled USD 299 million, representing a robust 35% increase compared with the same period in 2025. Accounting for 27% of Vietnam's total pangasius export value, China maintained its position as the industry's largest export market in the first half of 2026 and remained the key driver of overall growth.

The United States and Brazil: Two major markets yet to recover

In contrast to the positive performance in China, pangasius exports to the United States reached only USD 30 million in June 2026, down 10% year-on-year. Cumulative exports to the U.S. market totaled USD 167 million in the first six months, down 5% and accounting for 15% of Vietnam's total pangasius export value.

Exports to Brazil also remained weak. June export value reached USD 14 million, down 12% compared with the same month last year. In the first half of 2026, exports to Brazil totaled USD 88 million, down 6% year-on-year and accounting for approximately 8% of total exports. These two markets continued to be the weakest performers in Vietnam's pangasius export portfolio.

CPTPP exports rise 15%, led by Mexico, the UK, and Japan

Pangasius exports to CPTPP markets reached USD 196 million during the first half of 2026, up 15% year-on-year and accounting for 18% of total export value. Growth was mainly supported by strong performances in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Mexico remained the largest CPTPP market, with six-month exports reaching USD 43 million, up 28% year-on-year, despite June exports declining 20% to USD 6 million.

Exports to the United Kingdom posted impressive growth, reaching USD 8 million in June, up 30%, while cumulative exports for the first half of the year reached USD 36 million, an increase of 22%.

Japan also maintained steady growth, with June exports totaling USD 6 million, up 6%, bringing six-month exports to USD 26 million, up 19% from the same period last year.

Meanwhile, exports to the European Union reached USD 91 million in the first half of 2026, up a modest 3% year-on-year and accounting for 8% of total export value, indicating that the market remained stable but showed limited momentum.

Frozen pangasius fillets continue to dominate the export product mix

By product category, Vietnam's pangasius exports in the first half of 2026 remained heavily concentrated in frozen and dried products under HS Chapter 03. Export value for this category reached USD 1.09 billion, up 12% year-on-year and accounting for 98% of total pangasius exports.

Within this category, frozen pangasius fillets generated USD 919 million in export value, up 15% compared with the first half of 2025.

In contrast, value-added pangasius products under HS Chapter 16 generated only USD 21 million, down 15% year-on-year and representing just 2% of total export value. This indicates that significant opportunities remain for expanding value-added products, as Vietnam's pangasius exports continue to rely predominantly on primary processed products.

Diverging market performance highlights opportunities for value-added products

Overall, Vietnam's pangasius export performance during the first half of 2026 reflected increasingly divergent trends across major markets. China and CPTPP markets continued to drive overall growth, supported by stable demand and preferential tariff treatment under free trade agreements. In particular, the strong growth in China underscores the market's continued importance, although it also highlights the need to diversify export destinations to reduce market concentration risks.

By contrast, the United States and Brazil—two traditional markets that once accounted for a substantial share of Vietnam's pangasius exports—have yet to recover, reflecting ongoing competitive pressures, trade barriers, and changing consumer demand.

At the same time, the continued decline in the share of value-added products suggests that Vietnam's pangasius industry still relies heavily on primary processed exports and has yet to fully capitalize on opportunities to generate higher value. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated efforts by both businesses and policymakers to develop a more sustainable growth strategy for pangasius exports in the second half of 2026.