Export growth in key markets
According to Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports in April 2025 reached nearly USD 175 million, up 4% year-on-year. Cumulatively, the first four months of 2025 saw pangasius exports hit USD 640 million, a 10% increase over the same period last year.
China and Hong Kong remain Vietnam’s largest pangasius buyers. Exports to this market reached over USD 44 million in April, up 7% from April 2024. However, the year-to-date total was slightly down, at USD 149 million, a 2% decline.
The U.S. continued to be the second-largest destination for Vietnamese pangasius despite a 15% drop in April exports to USD 40 million. Total exports to the U.S. for the first four months of 2025 stood at USD 101 million, a modest 2% decrease.
Brazil has maintained its status as a major single-country market, particularly for frozen pangasius fillets. Exports in April reached USD 15 million, a 9% increase, while the year-to-date total surged to USD 63 million—up 67% from the same period last year.
In Europe, exports continued their positive trajectory, up 9% in April to USD 16 million. The Netherlands remains the leading EU market for Vietnamese pangasius, with USD 17 million in exports over the first four months of 2025—a 15% year-on-year increase.
Thailand also posted steady growth. April exports to the market totaled USD 5 million, up 5%, and reached USD 25 million for the January–April period, up 18% year-on-year.
Short-term boost amid tariff uncertainty
Despite the cloud of retaliatory tariffs imposed by the U.S., Vietnamese exporters have taken advantage of a temporary window to push shipments. On April 3, 2025 (Vietnam time), U.S. President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs on imports from over 180 economies. Vietnam was among those hardest hit, facing a proposed tariff rate of up to 46%, threatening key export sectors—especially seafood.
On April 9, however, Trump announced a 90-day suspension of these tariffs for over 75 countries, including Vietnam. This reprieve is seen as a critical window for bilateral negotiations and the potential to reach a more favorable long-term arrangement. While the pause has relieved short-term pressure, uncertainty still looms over the future trade landscape.
Broader impacts of trade conflict
The long-term effects of a U.S.-led trade war under the “America First” policy are expected to be extensive, impacting global supply chains, input costs, capital flows, inflation, and monetary policies worldwide. Vietnam, with its highly open economy and heavy dependence on exports, is especially vulnerable. Any U.S. tariff shock is likely to have a domino effect across sectors—including seafood and pangasius.
Strategic response and diversification
To avoid being caught off-guard by trade policy shifts, Vietnamese enterprises are being urged to diversify their markets and expand domestic consumption of pangasius. In parallel, investment in other whitefish export products such as tilapia and red tilapia may offer new growth avenues and help reduce exposure to U.S. trade risks.
While pangasius exports may enjoy short-term momentum, navigating the U.S. tariff storm will require strategic adaptation, market diversification, and strengthened domestic value chains to ensure long-term sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Brazil remains one of the key markets for Vietnamese pangasius in South America. However, exports to the market showed signs of slowing in the first half of 2026, while frozen pangasius fillets continued to account for the overwhelming majority of exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Marking 27 years of supporting Vietnam’s seafood industry, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (VIETFISH 2026) will officially return from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, on its largest scale ever. Under the core theme “Innovation – Sustainability,” the event promises to provide a comprehensive picture of the transformation of Vietnam’s seafood industry toward greater value addition and sustainable development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than three weeks remaining, the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability," Vietfish 2026 will provide a comprehensive networking platform for seafood businesses, buyers, distributors, industry experts, government agencies, and domestic and international visitors.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the technical seminar “Green and Sustainable Technology Solutions for the Aquaculture and Seafood Processing Value Chain” will take place from 09:30 to 11:45 on August 20, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The seminar is jointly organized by VASEP, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, focusing on technological innovation and sustainable transformation across Vietnam’s seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(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.
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