Vietnamese pangasius ranks among top 3 best-selling whitefish in the U.S.

The U.S. is currently one of the world's largest and fastest-growing markets for whitefish consumption. According to data from the International Trade Centre (ITC), in the first seven months of this year, the U.S.'s import turnover of whitefish reached over USD 1.1 billion, up 42% compared to the same period last year. Among the whitefish species consumed in the U.S., the three most imported are tilapia, cod, and pangasius.

In the first seven months of this year, the U.S.'s import turnover of frozen pangasius fillets reached nearly USD 230 million, ranking third after frozen tilapia fillets (USD 262 million) and frozen cod fillets (over USD 260 million).

Vietnam's pangasius exports to the EU market also saw growth, reaching USD 120 million in the first eight months of the year, up 6% compared to the same period.

Vietnam is currently the largest supplier of frozen pangasius fillets to the U.S., accounting for almost the entire market share. While China also exports frozen pangasius fillets to the U.S., the turnover remains insignificant. This indicates that Vietnamese frozen pangasius fillets are now the third best-selling whitefish product in the U.S. market. 

According to data from Vietnam Customs, the U.S. is currently one of the leading markets for Vietnamese pangasius. In the first eight months of this year, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the U.S. reached USD 234 million, an increase of 4% compared to the same period last year. Among single markets, the U.S. is Vietnam's second-largest importer of pangasius, after China.

Despite facing reciprocal tariffs, technical barriers, and strict quality requirements, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the U.S. still recorded positive growth in the first eight months of the year. Though modest, this growth underscores that Vietnamese pangasius has established a firm foothold in the U.S. market.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) assesses that the U.S. remains a key market for Vietnamese pangasius due to its high value, strict requirements, and global influence. Maintaining growth amid complex tariffs and technical barriers demonstrates that Vietnamese pangasius is strengthening its position in the mid- to high-end segment of the U.S. market.

Notably, along with the EU market, the U.S. continues to serve as a stable market with high sustainability standards, compelling Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to raise their quality benchmarks to maintain market share continuously.

According to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), as of 2024, there are 58 pangasius farms worldwide certified by ASC, all of them located in Vietnam. These farms produce over 210,000 tons of ASC-certified pangasius, which are now exported to more than 60 markets worldwide.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, a pangasius market expert at VASEP, in the first eight months of this year, Vietnam's pangasius exports to CPTPP countries reached USD 242 million, up 36% over the same period in 2024. Tariff preferences, combined with a shift in consumption trend toward convenient and safe products, are creating significant opportunities for Vietnamese pangasius in CPTPP countries, especially in Japan, Canada, and Mexico.

During the same period, Vietnam's pangasius exports to several ASEAN markets recorded robust growth. Specifically, the export turnover of pangasius to Thailand reached USD 52 million, up 31% compared to the same period in 2024. The export turnover to the Philippines hit USD 26 million, an increase of 31%. With advantages in geographical proximity, low logistics costs, and similar tastes, ASEAN is becoming an important regional market, helping Vietnam's pangasius industry reduce dependence on major markets.

In the first eight months of this year, Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 1.4 billion, up 10% compared to the same period last year. In addition to the U.S., pangasius exports to many other markets, particularly those within the CPTPP and ASEAN blocs, also recorded strong growth.

According to statistics from the General Department of Customs, the export turnover of Vietnamese goods to the U.S. market in the first eight months of 2025 reached over USD 99 billion, an increase of 26.6% over the same period last year. Among Vietnam's export commodities to the U.S., agricultural products and seafood occupy a crucial position because these are the product groups that Vietnam is strong in and the U.S. has a large demand for.