(pangasius-vietnam.com) Germany is the third largest consumer of Vietnamese pangasius in the EU and ranks eighth among Vietnam’s pangasius export markets. However, many fish exporters say that this market has still showed quiet demand and it may be hard for them to strongly increase exports in the coming time. According to Vietnam Customs, pangasius shipment to Germany had worth of US$20.03 million in January – May 2013, down 14.1 percent against the same time of 2012, showing the sharpest drop among the three leading markets in the EU.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to repeal a catfish inspection program that government watchdog groups have called a waste of money.

(vasep.com.vn) In the first half of the year, Vietnam’s capture production totaled an estimated volume of 1,311 thousand MT, representing an increase of 3.6 percent year on year in which marine catch was estimated to touch 1225,6 thousand MT, up 3.8 percent.

It remains a puzzle. One of America's favorite fish -- a fish so well liked that its name is widely recognized on menus across the country -- hasn't made it big in Europe.

(vasep.com.vn) Since April 2013, the U.S. has become the leading importer among single markets for Vietnamese pangasius. Pangasius segment in this market has kept a growing trend, though U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) imposed higher antidumping tax on frozen pangasius fillets imported from Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City – Vietnam Cleaner Production Centre (VNCPC), Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and other partners on August 2nd 2013 launched a new project entitled “Establishing a Sustainable Pangasius Supply Chain in Vietnam" (SUPA). The project is worth of 2.4 million euro, of which the European Union finances 1.9 million Euro under the EU SWITCH-Asia Programme. The project is implemented by VNCPC in partnership with VASEP, WWF-Vietnam and WWF- Austria.

(vasep.com.vn) Pangasius export is one of the key businesses in the Mekong Delta area in Vietnam, especially in An Giang province. The pangasius industry has created more than 500,000 jobs and brought back wealth for over 5,000 fish household in the region. Between January and June 2013, An Giang-based companies exported 87 thousand MT of pangasius, having a worth of US$218 million.

(vasep.com.vn) Pangasius products are facing a tough competition with other whitemeat fish species in the EU, especially in the Netherlands, resulting in tightened market shares for this fish in these markets.

Deep-fried catfish served with a side of hush puppies and coleslaw has been a regional specialty for years and a cash crop for states in the Deep South. Now, catfish is at the heart of a dispute as the House and Senate prepare to work out their differences on a new five-year farm bill. The current bill expires on Sept. 30.

(pangasius-vietnam.com) Vietnam pangasius exports to South Korea have been on uptrend over the current years, because demand for this fish in the market kept rising. In the first half of 2013, Vietnamese pangasius still saw strong increase in shipment to South Korea while Korean imports of all fishery products tended to stumble.

(vasep.com.vn) In June 2013, Gepimex 404 Company exported US$377 MT of seafood products to earn back US$647 thousand. Between January and June 2013, total exports reached 14,295 MT of volume and US$4.18 million of revenue.

(pangasius-vietnam.com) On July 22nd, 2013, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) signed the Decision No.1673/QĐ-BNN-TCTS to issue regulation on selected pangasius broodstock management in order to improve the control of high yield broodstock in the producing provinces located in Mekong Delta.

(vasep.com.vn) Hung Vuong Corporation (Hung Vuong Corp) was granted VietGAP certificate for its Hung Chau pangasius farm by the Fisheries Technology and Services Center of Vietnam (FITES) under the Decision No.02/QD-FITES signed by FITES’s director on July 25th 2013.

Vietnam’s leading pangasius fish exporter Hung Vuong Group (HVG) said it made a consolidated net profit of VND233.64 billion ($11.02 million) in the first half of this year, rising by 27.5% from the same period last year.

One thing is for sure, Pacific cod producers say – the market can’t get much worse.