The value of pangasius exports from Vietnam grew to its highest level thus far in 2022 in April, as sales to key markets continued to increase, according to data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
In the first four months of 2022, Vietnam shipped pangasius worth USD 963 million (EUR 900 million), up nearly 97 percent from a year ago.
Vietnam's pangasius export value reached USD 310 million (EUR 289.4 million) in April 2022, up 113.8 percent year-on-year. The total is up from March's total of USD 268 million (EUR 250.2 million), February's haul of USD 171 million (EUR 159.6 million), and January's total of USD 214 million (EUR 200 million).
From January through April 2022, China (including Hong Kong) remained the largest buyer of pangasius from Vietnam, with sales value of more than USD 300 million (EUR 280 million), 156 percent higher year-on-year. China was followed by the U.S. with USD 241 million (EUR 225 million), up 136 percent year-on-year; and the E.U. with USD 65 million (EUR 60.7 million), rising 84 percent.
Pangasius companies in Vietnam also sent more product to other markets, including Mexico, Egypt, and Thailand. Between January and April, Vietnam's shipments of pangasius from Vietnam to Mexico surged 69 percent year-on-year, surpassing USD 40 million (EUR 37.3 million) in value; followed by Thailand with USD 38 million (EUR 35.5 million) in purchases, up 80 percent year-on-year; and Egypt's market, which reached USD 14 million (EUR 13 million) in value, up 85 percent from the same period in 2021.
Despite high demand for pangasius in Vietnam's major markets, there remains a shortage of material pangasius for processing, particularly the fish qualified for exporting to the U.S. and the E.U., VASEP said.
Farmgate prices of pangasius during the week ending 19 May were between VND 31,000 and VND 32,500 (USD 1.33 and USD 1.39, EUR 1.24 and EUR 1.30) per kilogram for fish between 0.7 kilogram and 0.8 kilogram in weight, VASEP’s data showed.
Photo courtesy of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers
