Over the past two decades, pangasius has become one of Vietnam’s key export seafood products, accounting for over 95% of the global commercial pangasius market. Although countries such as India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Egypt, and China also farm this freshwater catfish, Vietnamese pangasius remains the top choice for major global importers. This preference is not simply a matter of habit but the result of a well-developed value chain, adherence to international standards, and a unified national industry strategy.

Leading the World in Production and Export

Each year, Vietnam produces approximately 1.5 to 1.7 million tons of commercial pangasius, with export revenues ranging from USD 1.6 to 2.3 billion. Vietnam currently supplies over 90% of the world’s frozen pangasius fillet. In contrast, countries like India (with 300,000–400,000 tons annually), Bangladesh, and Egypt mainly serve domestic markets or export raw products to less demanding destinations.

This underscores Vietnam’s irreplaceable role in the global pangasius supply chain.

Natural Advantages and the World’s Largest Farming Area

The Mekong Delta is home to the world’s largest specialized pangasius farming region, covering tens of thousands of hectares across provinces like Dong Thap, An Giang, Can Tho, and Vinh Long. The region offers ideal natural conditions—an abundant water system, mild climate, and stable water sources—advantages that few other countries can match.

Vietnam also leads in water quality management, applying environmental monitoring technologies and early disease warning systems to ensure biosecurity in aquaculture.

A Transparent, Efficient, and Fully Integrated Value Chain

Vietnam’s pangasius industry thrives on its comprehensive value chain—from breeding, feed production, farming, processing, to distribution and traceability. Leading companies such as Vinh Hoan, Nam Viet, IDI, and Bien Dong Seafoods have built closed-loop ecosystems that reduce costs, enhance quality, and ensure consistent supply.

This chain-link model allows Vietnam to maintain food safety standards and ensure uniformity in fillet size, color, and texture—areas in which other countries like Bangladesh and Indonesia still struggle.

International Certifications – A “Passport” to Premium Markets

Hundreds of farming zones and processing plants in Vietnam have earned prestigious certifications such as ASC, BAP, GlobalG.A.P, ISO 22000, HACCP, and BRC. These credentials are essential for accessing demanding markets such as the EU, the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and international retail chains like Carrefour, Costco, Metro, and Whole Foods.

Product Diversification – Enhancing Value

Beyond frozen fillets, Vietnam has developed a wide range of value-added pangasius products: fish chunks, fish cakes, fish balls, rolled fillets, steamed and grilled products, fish oil, and collagen. Byproducts such as fish skin, swim bladders, and fat are fully utilized in animal feed, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

As a result, each processed ton of pangasius can yield an additional 15–20% in added value—a distinct advantage over competitors who still export primarily raw or unprocessed fish.

Competitive Pricing Without Compromising Quality

Thanks to intensive farming, strict feed management, advanced technology, and large-scale operations, Vietnam maintains a highly competitive production cost while still ensuring food safety and quality.

In contrast, pangasius from India may be cheaper due to lower labor costs, but it suffers from inconsistent flesh quality, unstandardized size, and subpar color—factors that hinder its acceptance in high-end markets such as Europe and North America.

Government Support and Strategic Vision

Vietnam’s government consistently backs the pangasius sector through sustainable development strategies to 2030, promoting digitized traceability, expanding market access via free trade agreements (FTAs), and supporting geographical indication registration.

Transparent policies, clear export orientation, and continuously updated technical standards have reinforced trust among international buyers, elevating Vietnamese pangasius as a flagship of Asian seafood on the global stage.

Vietnamese Pangasius – A Choice of Trust and the Future

Amid increasingly fierce global competition, Vietnamese pangasius not only retains its leading position but continues to climb in value. From farming to processing, from quality control to national policy—all elements are professionally developed to create a globally recognized brand: “Vietnamese Pangasius.”

Choosing Vietnamese pangasius means choosing reliability, sustainability, and alignment with global trends in food safety and green development.

According to Vietnam Customs, in May 2025, pangasius exports reached USD 189 million, up 12% year-on-year. For the first five months of 2025, total exports reached USD 829 million, marking an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Source: VASEP