China, the U.S., and Brazil lead import markets
By market, China continued to be the largest destination for Vietnamese pangasius. In February 2026, exports to China reached USD 26 million, up 19% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months, exports totaled USD 94 million, surging 86%, mainly driven by increased imports ahead of the Lunar New Year.
The United States ranked second among import markets. In February 2026, pangasius exports to the U.S. reached USD 18 million, down 19% year-on-year. For the first two months, exports totaled USD 38 million, down slightly 5%. This decline partly reflects slower consumption and cautious sentiment among importers amid changes in U.S. tariff policies.
Brazil ranked third, with exports in February reaching USD 10 million, down 27% year-on-year. However, cumulative exports to this market in the first two months still reached USD 29 million, up 8%.
Other major market groups
Exports to CPTPP markets in February 2026 reached USD 22 million, down 7% year-on-year. Nevertheless, thanks to strong results in January, cumulative exports to this bloc in the first two months reached USD 59 million, up more than 23% compared to the same period in 2025.
Meanwhile, exports to the EU reached USD 11 million in February, down slightly 5% year-on-year. For the first two months, exports to the EU totaled USD 26 million, up 7%, indicating that demand in this region is maintaining a stable recovery trend.
Several other markets also showed positive growth signals. Thailand recorded USD 15 million in imports during the first two months, up 18%. Colombia saw the strongest growth, increasing by more than 100% year-on-year. In contrast, Canada recorded a slight decline both in February and over the two-month period.
Export product structure
In terms of product structure, pangasius products under HS code 03 continued to dominate total export value. In the first two months of 2026, frozen/dried pangasius (excluding HS0304) reached USD 52 million, up 22%, indicating stable demand for these products.
Meanwhile, value-added pangasius products (HS16) reached USD 6 million in the first two months of 2026, down 14% year-on-year. Although this segment accounts for a smaller share of total exports, it is considered to have strong long-term potential as consumer trends in many markets shift toward processed and convenient products.
Outlook and challenges
The export growth of pangasius in the first two months of 2026 was mainly driven by strong performance in January, while February showed signs of slowing. Exports to the U.S. declined by 19%, and several other markets also recorded slight decreases due to disruptions caused by the Lunar New Year holiday.
Meanwhile, China maintained solid growth of 19%, continuing to be a key driver of Vietnam’s pangasius exports in the early part of the year. However, the outlook ahead still presents several challenges. In the EU, while supply of whitefish is tightening, countries such as China and Brazil are increasing exports of tilapia, making the mid-range segment more competitive for Vietnamese pangasius.
In addition, ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to raise the risk of disruptions to maritime shipping routes and increase logistics costs, which could affect import demand and delivery schedules for seafood products in this region and globally in the coming period.
(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) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK have shown positive signs in the first months of 2026. While the UK’s overall tuna imports from the world declined, imports from Vietnam increased strongly, indicating that there is still room for Vietnam to expand its market share. However, behind this growth, competitive pressure remains intense, especially as the UK continues to be a major market for established suppliers such as Ecuador, Mauritius, and Ghana.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Biofloc technology is being piloted in several rice–shrimp farming models in Ca Mau Province, showing initial positive results in controlling pond environments, improving shrimp seed quality, and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Alongside the development of high-tech shrimp farming, Ha Tinh Province is accelerating the cultivation of high-value freshwater aquatic species, with red tilapia emerging as an effective and sustainable farming model.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
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