U.S. whitefish imports decline
According to ITC data, total U.S. whitefish imports in the first two months of 2026 reached USD 264 million, down 31% year-on-year. Frozen cod fillets remained the largest item at USD 71 million, but also declined by 25%. Overall, most imported whitefish products showed a downward trend.
Another factor affecting imports is the cautious sentiment among U.S. importers. On February 24, 2026, the U.S. imposed a temporary 10% import surcharge under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 for 150 days, with the possibility of increasing it to 15%. Under such uncertainty, importers tend to purchase only as needed, shorten contract cycles, and avoid long-term inventory buildup.
Tilapia rises while pangasius faces challenges
On the other hand, tightening supply of traditional whitefish is creating more room for alternative species, notably tilapia and pangasius. In early 2026 data, frozen tilapia fillets ranked as the second-largest imported whitefish product in the U.S., reaching USD 54 million and accounting for 21% of total imports. Frozen pangasius fillets ranked third with USD 44 million, accounting for 17%. This indicates that U.S. buyers continue to show strong interest in more price-competitive alternatives to cod.
Within this landscape, Vietnamese pangasius in the U.S. is both facing opportunities and mounting pressure. According to available data, pangasius exports to the U.S. reached USD 67 million in the first three months of 2026, down 3% year-on-year. Notably, the decline mainly came from value-added processed products, which fell sharply by 83% to just USD 761,000, accounting for only about 1% of exports. In contrast, frozen pangasius fillets remained relatively stable at USD 65 million, up 3% and making up 97% of total exports. This suggests that U.S. demand for pangasius is still heavily concentrated in basic, affordable products that are easy to distribute through retail and foodservice channels.
Improving quality and branding to enhance competitiveness
Overall, Vietnamese pangasius in the U.S. is not only under pressure from tariffs and policy uncertainty but also faces intensifying competition in a market that is both contracting and evolving in consumer behavior. As tilapia continues to gain ground, pangasius’ price advantage is likely to narrow.
To maintain and expand its position in the U.S., Vietnamese exporters can no longer rely solely on a “competitive price” strategy. Instead, they need to shift toward competing on consistent quality, international certifications, sustainability, traceability, and brand building. In the short term, frozen fillets will remain the core product; however, in the long run, only companies that can meet higher standards and build internationally recognized brands will be able to secure a more sustainable foothold in the U.S. market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.
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
