2016 was a year marked challenges and breakthroughs in both supply and export market conditions.
The most notable market challenge of 2016 came in April, when the US, which is Vietnam’s largest market accounting for 23 per cent of exports, implemented transitional enforcement of the “Catfish Inspection Programme”. This new programme, which will take away regulatory responsibility from the FDA and pass it to the USDA, comes with a myriad of new regulations and an equivalency requirement of the exporting countries’ inspection authority to that of the USA. These unprecedented changes have caused tremendous confusion throughout the global seafood industry.
On the supply side, March marked the most devastating drought the Mekong River Delta witnessed in the past century, bringing forth unfavourable salinity levels. These conditions forced smaller harvesting windows, causing abnormal spikes in raw material pricing. Vietnamese pangasius farmers will remember 2016 as the year marked by many erratic and unexpected fluctuations.
Nevertheless, industry performance stayed strong, with high growth in major markets (for example the US: 22.2 per cent, and China: 84.4 per cent). China even surpassed Europe to become the second largest importer of Vietnamese pangasius, accounting for 17 per cent of the total export. Total production volume in 2016 was estimated at 1.2 million tonnes, up 9 per cent year-on-year; and the farming acreage increased to 5,000 hectares. After the sluggish period from 2008-2015 with an annual growth rate of merely 1 per cent, the industry for the first time saw a recovery in 2016 with a 6.6 per cent growth rate.
With nearly a 20-year experience in the industry, Vinh Hoan continues to set higher targets and long-term strategies to capture the market opportunities. In the face of these supply and market challenges, Vinh Hoan continued its long track record of stable growth and continued to lay the foundation in innovative market strategies, new product development and sustainable farming techniques.
Besides increasing its foothold in existing markets, the company’s successful market strategy allowed it to open direct sales channels and forge into new markets. During 2016, it entered 5 new markets, increasing its total sales network to 170 customers in over 40 countries. Mexico and China reported a high-record year-on-year growth of 73 and 137 per cent, respectively; and the most notable direct sale channel opened up with the first sale of pangasius fillets to Mercadona- Spain’s largest retailer.
In 2016, a range of new value-added products were introduced, notably the basa teriyaki - its first ready-to-eat product. In December, the first “Vinh Foods” branded product was debuted to Spanish consumers.
In terms of sustainable farming, Vinh Hoan’s self-supply ratio reached nearly 65 per cent and saw total ASC-certified farm area reaching 115ha, the largest of that in Vietnam.
Also, with the establishment of Vinh Aquaculture - a division specialised in sustainable farming, Vinh Hoan will deepen the research and development into eco-friendly and economically sustainable aquaculture at a larger scale to satisfy increasingly rigorous technical requirements from importing countries.
With these all-encompassing approaches, Vinh Hoan has maintained its annual export growth rate at 12 per cent for the last 5 years. For 2017, Vinh Hoan targets 15 per cent growth in pangasius exports and $5 million in value-added products revenue, a 50 per cent increase on 2016.
Source: VIR
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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