According to data from Vietnam Customs, in the first half of May 2024, Vietnamese pangasius exports to Colombia reached nearly 1.6 million USD, an increase of 140% over the same period last year. As of May 15, 2024, cumulative pangasius exports to this market reached 16 million USD, an increase of 34% over the same period in 2023.

According to ITC data, Colombia mainly consumes frozen pangasius products with HS code 030424, frozen tilapia with HS code 030461, frozen pangasius fillets with HS code 030462,...In 2023, this South American country will consume nearly 50 million USD of white meat fish, of which the volume imported from Vietnam (mainly pangasius) will reach nearly 24 thousand tons, worth more than 33 million USD; accounting for 66% of the proportion. Behind Vietnam, China, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela are also the largest sources of whitefish for the Colombian market.

Also according to ITC, Vietnam has continuously been the number 1 source of white fish fish for Colombia since 2012 until now. The South American country's imports of whitefish (mainly pangasius) from Vietnam have also remained stable and grown gradually over the past 11 years. 2014 was recorded as the time when Colombia consumed the most white fish products from Vietnam, with a value of more than 48 million USD; accounting for 96% of the proportion and far ahead of other countries in the race to export white meat fish to this market. 2022 is also a year when Colombia's white meat fish import value from Vietnam will make a mark, with a value of nearly 45 million USD, accounting for 90% of the total white meat fish this country imports from the world.

In 2019, the low export price of Vietnamese pangasius to Colombia is one of the reasons why it is not attractive to Vietnamese businesses. Typically, there were only 4 enterprises participating in exporting pangasius to Colombia in 2019. 5 years later, by the end of May 2024, Vietnam had 16 enterprises exporting pangasius to Colombia.

After Covid-19, Colombia's economy was negatively affected when nearly 50% of the population fell into poverty, inflation increased and living and consumption costs became expensive.

Colombia is the fourth largest economy in Latin America, and is also an advanced freshwater aquaculture country in South America with strong tilapia products; However, Colombia still maintains a stable import of frozen pangasius products from Vietnam. With the advantage of being a delicious, nutritious, white-fleshed fish that contains a lot of Omega3 and an affordable price, pangasius is a suitable choice for Colombian consumers. From 10 years ago until now, consumers in Colombia still maintain meals containing white fish (mainly pangasius) from Vietnam. High consumption demand has made importers in this South American country become longtime partners of Vietnamese pangasius export enterprises for more than a decade.

Sources: VASEP