In May 2024, Saudi Arabia imported nearly 6 million USD of Vietnamese pangasius, recording the highest level compared to the same months in previous years, since 2022.

According to data from Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to Saudi Arabia in May 2024 reached nearly 6 million USD, up 38% over the same period last year. In the first 5 months of this year, cumulative exports of Vietnamese pangasius to Saudi Arabia reached nearly 17 million USD, up 21% over the same period last year, up 81% over the same period in 2022.

Vietnam Customs data shows that in the first half of June 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exports to Saudi Arabia reached nearly 2 million USD, an increase of 16% over the same period. Cumulative exports as of June 15, 2024 reached nearly 19 thousand USD, up 21% over the same period in 2023.

Saudi Arabia mainly imports frozen pangasius products from Vietnam. In the first 5 months of this year, this country consumed more than 9 million USD of frozen pangasius fillets with HS code 03046200, an increase of 122% over the same period last year, accounting for 82% of the proportion. In particular, in May 2024 alone, Saudi Arabia consumed nearly 4 million USD of pangasius, an increase of 171% compared to May 2023. This is also the month that recorded the highest import value compared to the same period in previous years, since 2022.

In addition to frozen fillets, Saudi Arabia also imported frozen cut pangasius products packaged with HS code 03032400. By the end of May 2024, Saudi Arabia consumed nearly 2 million USD of this product; increased 60% over the same period last year, accounting for 18% proportion. In particular, May 2024 was also recorded as the month exporting the most pangasius code HS 03032400 to Saudi Arabia with a value of nearly 1 million USD, an increase of 116% over the same period last year.

In 2020, after more than 2 years of coordinated efforts of relevant parties in promoting and mobilizing Saudi Arabian agencies; This country has initially allowed some Vietnamese enterprises to export caught seafood to Saudi Arabia. Vietnam's pangasius industry is increasingly asserting its position and product quality in this demanding market. Top enterprises exporting pangasius to Saudi Arabia in the first 5 months of this year include:

Saudi Arabia is a market with high requirements for food hygiene and safety quality. This is also a leading market in the Middle East, so Saudi Arabia's policy moves can influence other markets in the region. Therefore, seafood enterprises need to review and strengthen inspection and supervision of the farming and production environment at production facilities; seafood processing to ensure food hygiene and safety quality for seafood products exported to Saudi Arabia, including pangasius, to avoid affecting the application evaluation process of the Saudi General Directorate of Food and Drugs Arabia (SFDA) for other businesses. This also helps limit the possibility of Saudi Arabia considering re-applying the import ban on seafood products from Vietnam in the future.

Source: VASEP