China and the U.S. continue to grow while Brazil slows down
China remained Vietnam’s largest pangasius import market with impressive results. In April 2026, exports to this market reached USD 53 million, up 26% year-on-year. Total exports in the first four months climbed to USD 197 million, accounting for nearly 27% of total pangasius exports and increasing by 54% — the strongest growth rate among major markets. Chinese consumer demand recovered quickly after a cautious period, while advantages in transportation and bilateral trade relations have been effectively utilized.
The United States ranked second, with April export value reaching USD 39 million, up 20% year-on-year. Cumulative exports through April reached USD 106 million, up 4% — positive but far more modest growth compared to China. Under pressure from the 10% tariff and competition from alternative whitefish suppliers, Vietnamese pangasius exports to the U.S. have recovered after a prolonged period of negative growth. However, Vietnamese pangasius products in the U.S. market continue to face significant challenges and competition from other whitefish products.
Brazil, the largest pangasius consumption market in Latin America, recorded export turnover of USD 17 million in April, up 13% year-on-year. However, cumulative exports in the first four months of 2026 reached only USD 57 million, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025.
EU posts slight growth, CPTPP continues to accelerate
Total pangasius exports to the EU from January to April 2026 reached USD 57 million, down 4% year-on-year. In April alone, exports to the EU reached USD 17 million, up slightly by 5%, indicating gradual recovery toward the end of the period.
From the beginning of the year through April 2026, the CPTPP bloc maintained strong growth momentum, with total exports to member markets reaching USD 128 million, up 21% year-on-year.
Frozen fillets continue to dominate
Regarding product structure in the first four months of 2026, frozen pangasius products under HS03 accounted for 98% of total export turnover. Of this, frozen fillets (HS0304) reached USD 594 million, accounting for more than 82% of the industry’s total export value and rising 20%, continuing to be the core product of Vietnamese pangasius in international markets. In contrast, value-added pangasius products under HS16 contributed only USD 13 million, accounting for less than 2% of total exports and declining 16% — indicating that the high value-added segment has yet to be effectively developed.
Vietnam’s pangasius export performance in the first four months of 2026 shows that the industry is maintaining positive growth momentum, driven mainly by China and the CPTPP markets.
Although exports to the EU and Brazil have shown signs of slowing in the short term, this may also create opportunities for enterprises to restructure markets, improve product quality, and enhance adaptability to increasingly stringent import requirements. At the same time, the HS16 processed product segment still holds considerable growth potential. As global demand for convenient and value-added food products continues to rise, this segment could become an important driver for increasing export value and improving profit margins for the pangasius industry in the coming years.
However, alongside the positive signals, businesses should also pay attention to several market uncertainties in the coming period, including the increasing use of trade defense measures, exchange rate fluctuations, and rising international logistics costs. In this context, market diversification, increasing the share of value-added products, and investing more in sustainable farming areas will remain key strategies for enhancing resilience and maintaining long-term growth for Vietnam’s pangasius industry.
(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.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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
