According to the data from Vietnam’s customs, Pangasius exports of Vietnam in January 2025 reached more than 133 million USD, a 19% decrease compared to the same period last year. Notably, the ranking of the top import markets for Vietnamese pangasius has undergone adjustments.

In terms of product structure, Pangasius with HS03 code accounted for 97% of the total Pangasius export turnover, reaching 130 million USD, down 20% compared to the same period of last year. Specifically fresh/frozen/dried pangasius (excluding HS0304 code) saw a 28% decline, while pangasius under HS0304 code dropped by 18%. In January 2025, the export of value-added pangasius products under the HS16 code accounted for only a small proportion, reaching over $3 million, with a slight increase of 3% compared to the same period last year. In terms of consumption markets, China & Hong Kong continued to be the largest consumer market of Vietnamese pangasius in the first month of this year, despite negative growth of 40% over the same period and reaching only over 31 million USD, accounting for 24% of the total export of pangasius to the world.

In January 2025, CPTPP surpassed the US and became the second-largest market block for importing Vietnamese pangasius. Although the export turnover to this bloc witnessed a decrease of 17% compared to January 2024, reaching 21 million USD, Pangasius exports to Mexico still reached the highest level in the bloc, with over 5 million USD, down 20% over the same period.

The US was the third largest consumer market of Vietnamese pangasius in the first month of the year after continuously ranking second after China & HK for many years. Pangasius export turnover to the US in the first month of 2025 reached 18 million USD, down 2% compared to the same period last year. Pangasius's exports to Germany recorded a positive growth of 57%, with a value of nearly 3 million USD. However, many other markets decreased sharply such as Colombia down 38%, Spain down 33% and the UK down 30%.

Although the decrease was not much, due to the sharp decline in the Chinese & Hong Kong markets and less CPTPP, the US dropped to third place and was right after CPTPP. The reasons for the decline and the change in ranking in the US market may be due to seasonal factors, the first month of the year is usually the time after the period of strong demand growth at the end of the previous year, production and export activities may slow down; World market demand has changed, competition from other sources of supply; Technical barriers, tariffs from import markets; US importers have had a certain amount of inventory since the end of 2024; Competition from other white fish products in the US market.