In 2015, the EU ranked second among the largest importers of Vietnamese pangasius, trailing only the US, with export turnover reaching USD 285 million. A decade later, in 2024, the market has fallen to fourth place, surpassed by China & Hong Kong, the US, and CPTPP member countries. Total pangasius export turnover to the EU in 2024 reached USD 161 million, a 5% decrease compared to 2023 and a significant 44% decrease compared to 2015.
This decline is evident across most product segments. In the value-added pangasius segment, EU imports from Vietnam exceeded USD 8 million in 2015. Ten years later, in 2024, this market imported just over USD 3.5 million worth of value-added pangasius products from Vietnam, a slight 3% increase compared to 2023. Of the past ten years, 2023 witnessed the most "bleak" year for value-added pangasius exports to the EU, while 2017 recorded the highest level.
Exports of other frozen pangasius products (whole, fillets, etc.) to the EU in 2024 increased by 2% compared to 2023. Over the past ten years, since 2015, exports of these products to the EU in 2022 are considered to have reached the highest value, with nearly USD 10 million, almost doubling compared to 2021, followed by 2024. Although the increase is not high, this is still a fairly positive result that the pangasius export industry received in 2024.
So, what outcome awaits pangasius exports to the EU in 2025? The 2025 economy is likened to a convalescent recovering from a bout of COVID-related illness. Its resilience remains weak and highly susceptible to headwinds - potential risks that may arise in 2025. The global economy continues to face numerous challenges. Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, political gridlock in Germany and France, and growing concerns about the Chinese economy further cloud the picture. Escalating conflicts could disrupt energy markets, impact confidence and growth, hinder trade growth, and trigger sudden adjustments in financial markets.
The EU market, home to many important customers of Vietnamese pangasius, is unlikely to escape these impacts. However, it is still too early to draw conclusions or make accurate forecasts about consumer demand in this market bloc, as it depends on many factors, including the aforementioned objective reasons and subjective impacts from prices.
(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
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Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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