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) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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