Vietnam's pangasius exports navigated a challenging 2024, achieving USD 2 billion in export turnover with steady, albeit slow, growth. Shifts in consumer preferences, market adjustments, and fluctuations in geopolitical factors, including conflicts, freight rates, and tariffs, presented unavoidable obstacles in the current climate.
However, the paramount factor enabling a product to maintain a strong market presence and earn consumer trust remains high quality coupled with reasonable pricing. High-quality finished products stem from sound production and processing procedures adhering to food safety and hygiene standards. To achieve this, harvested pangasius must meet size requirements and be disease-free before entering processing plants. Healthy and carefully selected fingerlings, raised in optimal conditions, determine the final product quality.
The average farming period for pangasius is 10 months, with fish reaching a size of 0.7-1.5 kg/fish, meeting commercial pangasius standards. This extended farming period requires patience, meticulous care, close monitoring of the fish stock, and prompt detection and isolation of diseased fish to ensure sufficient output for processing, production, and export. Thus, farmers are a crucial driving force for increased production and exports. Profitable farming incentivizes expansion of ponds, mitigating the issue of idle ponds.
2025 is considered a pivotal year for Vietnam's seafood export sector, with Vietnamese farmers and fishermen as the core driving force. 2025 also promises to be a year of new milestones for pangasius exports.
Regarding consumption markets, China & Hong Kong remain the leading destinations for Vietnamese pangasius exports. In December 2024 alone, pangasius exports to this market reached over USD 52 million, a 19% increase year-on-year. Cumulative pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong for the entire year 2024 reached over USD 580 million, a slight 1.3% increase compared to 2023.
The US continues to hold second place, after China, among the largest importers of Vietnamese pangasius. In the final month of 2024, pangasius exports to the US reached nearly USD 28 million, a 40% increase compared to December 2023.
Pangasius exports to the CPTPP bloc also recorded 10% growth in 2024, reaching over USD 274 million. Within the bloc, Mexico remains the leading importer of pangasius from Vietnam. In 2024, pangasius exports to Mexico reached USD 76 million, a 4% increase compared to 2023.
Pangasius exports to the EU in the final month of 2024 also reached nearly USD 16 million, an 18% increase compared to December 2023. The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, and Spain are among the top importers of Vietnamese pangasius within the bloc. However, unlike other countries, pangasius exports to Germany alone witnessed a 2% decrease in 2024, with a value of over USD 37 million.
Furthermore, pangasius export turnover to some other markets also achieved positive results and recorded positive growth, such as Brazil with a 15% increase, Thailand with a 4% increase, and Colombia with a 36% increase.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn
