In the first half of the year, pangasius exports reached approximately 1.1 billion USD, up 12% compared to the same period. This is a positive signal demonstrating that the pangasius sector is recovering. China continues to serve as the largest market, while the CPTPP bloc plays an increasingly clearer role in expanding outlets.

Vietnam's pangasius exports continue to recover positively; however, among the three largest markets, only China recorded strong growth, while the United States and Brazil both decreased…

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), pangasius exports in June 2026 alone reached 205 million USD, up 5% compared to the same period last year.

Looking from total turnover, this is a positive result. But when dissecting the growth structure, the pangasius export picture in 2026 demonstrates a fairly deep divergence among markets.

Over the past 6 months, pangasius exports to China reached 299 million USD, up 35% and occupying approximately 27% of the entire sector's total turnover. This is not only the largest market but also the most important driver pulling pangasius export growth in the first half of the year.

From the growth rate announced by VASEP, export turnover to China in the same period of 2025 can be estimated at approximately 221 million USD. Thus, this market alone generated nearly an additional 78 million USD in the first half of 2026.

However, monthly developments demonstrate that growth speed is showing signs of slowing down. If after the first 5 months of 2026, exports to China rose up to 43%, by the end of June the cumulative increase remained at 35%, with June alone rising merely 5%.

This demonstrates that the strong growth effect early in the year is gradually decelerating. Therefore, second-half prospects still depend heavily on the ability to maintain import demand from this largest market.

Contrary to China, two traditional markets, the United States and Brazil, have not yet shown signs of sustainable recovery. In the first 6 months of the year, pangasius exports to the United States reached 167 million USD, down 5% compared to the same period and occupying approximately 15% of total export turnover. In June alone, exports to this market decreased by 10%.

The United States is evaluated as a market bearing special significance for the pangasius sector due to high requirements regarding quality, traceability, and capacity to satisfy technical standards. Therefore, continued export decline not only reduces turnover but also demonstrates that the high-value product segment has not yet recovered clearly.

Meanwhile, Brazil reached 88 million USD in the first half of the year, down 6% and occupying approximately 8% of total export turnover. In June alone, turnover to this market decreased by 12%. Even so, Brazil's decline does not imply that the entire Latin American region loses growth drivers.

Alongside China, the CPTPP bloc is emerging as a new bright spot for Vietnam's pangasius exports. In the first 4 months of the year, exports to CPTPP countries reached nearly 128 million USD, up 21% and occupying approximately 18% of total turnover. Notably, each market within the bloc possesses different demands, creating conditions for enterprises to diversify products instead of merely concentrating on frozen fillets.

Mexico emerges as one of the fastest-growing markets. In the first 4 months of the year, pangasius exports to this country reached nearly 31 million USD, up 57%, within which approximately 91% were frozen fillet products.

Alongside Mexico, Colombia is also evaluated as possessing plenty of room for development. This demonstrates that strategy in the Latin American region should not merely concentrate on restoring the Brazilian market but needs to expand to rapidly growing markets.

According to VASEP, markets such as Japan, Canada, and part of Australia also create opportunities to develop deep-processed, conveniently packaged products carrying higher added value, thereby contributing to elevating the growth quality of the sector.

With a foundation of 1.1 billion USD in the first 6 months of the year, VASEP forecasts that the pangasius sector has grounds to head toward the target of exceeding the 2 billion USD export mark in the entire year of 2026 if the current pace is maintained.

Source: Bao Thanh tra