Over the past decade, China first surpassed the U.S. as the largest importer of Vietnam’s pangasius in 2017. However, in 2018, the U.S. reclaimed its position, with exports of pangasius to the U.S. reaching USD 550 million, while exports to China totaled USD 529 million.
Since 2019, however, exports of pangasius to the U.S. have struggled to achieve significant growth due to the ongoing anti-dumping tariffs. As a result, China has been the leading market for Vietnam’s pangasius exports for the past six consecutive years.
In 2024, exports of pangasius to China accounted for 29% of Vietnam’s total seafood exports. October 2024 recorded the highest monthly export value to China & Hong Kong since the beginning of the year, exceeding USD 61 million, a 9% increase compared to the same month in 2023.
Frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam are highly favored by Chinese consumers. In Q4 2024, the value of these exports to China surpassed USD 100 million, a 62% increase compared to Q4 2023. For the whole year of 2024, frozen pangasius fillet exports to China & Hong Kong reached USD 349 million, a 6% decrease from the previous year, representing 60% of the total pangasius exports to this market.
In Q4 2024, China increased imports of dried pangasius and other frozen products (whole fish, cut fish, fish maws, etc.) by 7% compared to Q4 2023. Exports of value-added pangasius products in Q4 2024 saw a remarkable growth of 92% compared to the same period in 2023.
Currently, the U.S. and China are the top two markets for Vietnam’s pangasius exports. With the recent signing of a bilateral agreement between Vietnam and the United States to remove the anti-dumping tariffs on pangasius fillets from Vietnam, the number one position held by China may be challenged in 2025.
The U.S. implementation of the WTO ruling opens up significant opportunities for Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the U.S. to stabilize. This move also plays a crucial role in demonstrating the commitment to strengthening the multi-faceted relationship between Vietnam and the U.S., especially in the context of the two countries upgrading their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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