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 the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
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