Vietnam restructures pangasius supply chain to tap premium markets
Vietnam’s pangasius industry is overhauling its production and export value chain in 2025 to target premium markets and boost high-value sales, as exports rebound despite intensifying global competition.
Pangasius exports reached USD 915 million from Jan. 1 to June 15, up 11% from a year earlier, customs data showed. Value-added products contributed USD 24 million, a 59% jump, though they still accounted for only 2.6% of total earnings.
“With a vertically integrated value chain from broodstock to processing and distribution, Vietnam ensures quality, traceability, and compliance with global standards,” said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Vietnam, the world’s third-largest seafood exporter, earns about USD 2 billion annually from pangasius, mostly from frozen fillets. Despite competition from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Egypt, Vietnam maintains a 90% share of the global frozen pangasius fillet market, supported by stable annual output of 1.5 – 1.7 million tonnes.
The Mekong Delta remains the center of production, with intensive farming zones spanning Dong Thap, An Giang, Vinh Long and Can Tho. Hundreds of farms and processing facilities hold certifications such as ASC, BAP and GlobalG.A.P., giving Vietnamese exporters an edge in markets including the EU, U.S., Japan and South Korea.
To meet growing demand for premium products, producers are developing ASC/BAP-certified broodstock, expanding certified farming areas, and investing in upgraded processing plants and cold-chain logistics. Raw material is being closely monitored for size and flesh color to meet higher-end requirements.
At the 2025 North America Seafood Expo, Vinh Hoan Corporation showcased deeply processed offerings such as pangasius surimi, tray-packed breaded fillets and steamed fish dumplings, highlighting its push into higher-margin segments.
Beyond traditional frozen fillets, the industry now offers pangasius chunks, fish balls, cakes, collagen and oil. By-products such as skin, fat and swim bladders are being used in animal feed, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, adding 15 – 20% in value per tonne processed.
Vietnam’s strategy of boosting high-value processed exports and fully utilizing by-products is aimed at consolidating the pangasius industry’s position in the global market amid mounting competition.
VFM
