(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sluggish period in 2023, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the European Union (EU) market have shown positive signs in the first four months of 2025. According to data from Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to the EU reached USD 61 million during this period, marking a 9% increase compared to the same period last year. While this is an encouraging signal, much of the growth stems from a few individual markets, whereas many other countries continue to record a decline in imports.
Netherlands – Leading the Growth Surge
The Netherlands leads the EU in importing Vietnamese pangasius, with an import value of over $17 million in the first four months of 2025, up 15% from the same period in 2024. In April, pangasius exports to this market surged 26%, reaching over $5 million, signaling a clear recovery in demand.
The rise in orders from the Netherlands can be attributed to two main factors: a post-winter decline in distributor inventories across Europe, which has driven up import demand, and competitive pricing strategies that align with value-conscious consumer behavior amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
As the largest seafood transshipment and distribution hub in the EU, the Netherlands continues to play a strategic role in the pangasius export supply chain. Many Vietnamese enterprises are focusing on improving product quality, particularly value-added items such as marinated, portioned, and tray-packed pangasius, aiming to meet the demand for convenience and support market recovery in the third quarter.
Germany – Slight decline but still significant
Following the Netherlands, Germany is the second-largest EU consumer of Vietnamese pangasius in the EU bloc. However, according to data from Vietnam Customs, the export value to Germany in April 2025 decreased significantly to approximately $2 million, reflecting a 58% decline compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. Cumulative pangasius exports to Germany in the first four months of 2025 totaled $11 million, representing a 12% year-on-year decrease.
Germany has stringent requirements for traceability, product quality, and environmental certifications which Vietnamese enterprises are increasingly striving to meet.
However, whitefish consumption in Germany continues to be affected by food inflation and a growing preference for locally sourced species like salmon or cod, as pangasius prices are less competitive than pre-pandemic years. This situation underscores the need for strategic market repositioning and an emphasis on developing higher-value-added pangasius products to enhance competitiveness.
Spain – Growth slows down
Spain, the third-largest EU market for Vietnamese pangasius, recorded imports of $6.8 million in the first four months of 2025, a 5% decrease from 2024. As Europe’s leading seafood-consuming nation, Spain was historically a robust growth market for pangasius. However, in 2025, consumer preferences have shifted toward localized products, diminishing pangasius’ prior growth momentum despite its competitive pricing.
Spain shows a strong preference for pre-marinated frozen pangasius fillets. To enhance consumption during the upcoming summer season, Vietnamese companies could strategically target the restaurant, hotel, and retail supermarket sectors in tourist-centric cities.
Belgium – Growth resumes after a quiet period
As of the end of April 2025, pangasius exports to Belgium reached over $6 million, marking 10% increase compared to the previous year. This can be considered an encouraging result given that many other EU markets have remained stagnant or experienced significant declines. Although April alone saw a 12% decrease, this appears to be a short-term adjustment, potentially due to technical factors such as changes in order cycles or high inventory levels from Q1 leading importers to temporarily scale back to manage stock.
As a key logistics hub in Western Europe, Belgium serves as both a consumer market and a transshipment point for pangasius to neighboring countries like Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Germany. Similar to the Netherlands, Belgium plays a dual role as both a consumption destination and a redistribution center. This year, many Belgian importers have shown a trend toward increasing orders for value-added pangasius products—particularly breaded or portioned items—to supply domestic restaurant chains and retail channels.
Italy – A New Growth Highlight
In April 2025, pangasius exports to Italy increased by 51% compared to the previous year, with a value exceeding $1.4 million, though still relatively modest. This upward trend has been consistent since the beginning of 2025, with cumulative exports for the first four months rising 71% to over $5 million, outperforming traditionally larger markets such as France, Spain, and Germany.
Several factors have driven this robust growth. The high cost of living in Italy has prompted middle-income consumers to opt for high-quality, cost-effective food options, with pangasius emerging as a favorable choice. Furthermore, the increasing focus by Italian supermarket chains and restaurants on sustainably sourced and traceable products—standards met by Vietnamese pangasius through certifications like ASC and Global GAP—has expanded market opportunities.
France, Portugal, and Greece – Stable and promising markets
By April 2025, pangasius exports reached $3 million to France (up 32%), over $2 million to Portugal (up 33%), and nearly $2 million to Greece (up 19%). Notably, France is increasing imports of pre-cut pangasius fillets and steamed frozen pangasius, aligning with rising demand for convenient and diet-friendly products among younger consumers.
Pangasius exports to other EU markets showed varied trends depending on economic conditions and domestic demand—for instance, Hungary saw an increase of 37%, while Romania dropped 21%, Slovenia declined 40%, and Croatia fell by 29%. Notably, exports to Bulgaria surged by 620%, albeit from a very low base. These fluctuations indicate that pangasius exports to the EU are gradually shifting from a concentrated to a more diversified market structure—an essential step toward achieving long-term sustainability.
Outlook for Q2 and full-year 2025: Sustained recovery with need for breakthroughs
With the positive results achieved in the first four months of the year, pangasius exports to the EU in Q2/2025 are expected to continue growing at a double-digit rate. This outlook is supported by stable raw material prices in Vietnam, relatively unchanged logistics costs, and gradually improving consumer sentiment in Europe following a turbulent 2023.
For the full year 2025, if a steady quarterly growth rate of 8–12% can be maintained, pangasius export turnover to the EU could reach or even surpass USD 180–190 million—a strong recovery compared to the low point in 2023.
However, to achieve this goal, the pangasius industry must continue to focus on product diversification, increasing the level of processing, and, most importantly, maintaining consistent quality— a key factor in sustaining trust from the EU's demanding importers.