The above breakthrough growth is not an optimistic signal because in September 2021, due to the impact of the Covid pandemic, pangasius exports dropped to the lowest level. Moreover, every September should be the peak season with many orders for year-end and New Year holidays, but this year, pangasius turnover in September is 15% lower than August. China, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Canada, the Netherlands, Colombia all have pangasius imports 17-36% lower than in August.
However, there are still some markets with higher export turnover than in August. These are Australia, up 11%, Singapore up 22%, Saudi Arabia 32%, France 86% .
Accumulating the first 9 months of 2022, the country's pangasius exports reached nearly 2 billion USD, up 83% over the same period last year. In which, frozen pangasius fillets/cuts with HS code 0304 reached over 1.7 billion USD, accounting for 87%. Fresh pangasius HS code 03 accounted for 12%, reaching 235 million USD, the rest were processed products accounted for 2% with 138 million USD.
China & HongKong accounted for 30% of pangasius export turnover in the first 3 quarters of the year with US$ 589 million, up 111% over the same period. The proportion of the US tends to decrease gradually, accounting for 23% with 454 million USD. According to statistics from the US Department of Commerce, in the first 8 months of 2022, the US imported over 96 thousand tons of frozen pangasius fillets (HS code 030462), worth over US$405 million, up 26% in volume and 95% in value. The average import price of frozen pangasius fillets to the US in the first 8 months of 2022 reached $4.21/kg, up 54% over the same period last year.
Although exports to the EU still more than doubled over the same period, this market only accounts for 8% of total pangasius exports with nearly 160 million USD. In which, the top 3 markets in this block include the Netherlands, accounting for 2.2% with over 44 million USD, followed by Germany with over 21 million USD and Belgium with nearly 16 million USD.
The CPTPP bloc accounted for 13% of pangasius exports in the first 9 months of 2022 with nearly $260 million, an increase of 80% over the same period last year. The prominent markets in the bloc are Mexico, accounting for 4.3% with nearly 85 million USD, Canada accounting for 2.4%, reaching more than 47 million USD, Australia accounting for 1.6% reaching 30.5 million USD, followed by Singapore with over 28 million USD, accounting for 1.4%.
Pangasius exports are expected to increase in October, often called “the peak season” as importers often increase imports to serve for the end-year holidays. Currently, the supply of raw pangasius in many localities is decreasing, and the price of raw fish is increasing. Hopefully, demand will recover and the price of pangasius will stabilize or increase again, so that pangasius in 2022 can reach the record value of $2.5 billion, up 54% compared to 2021.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(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.
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(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
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