Vietnam is the sole source of the fish that ranks fourth on China's favorite whitefish menu.

Vietnam is the second largest supplier of white meat to China.

According to statistics from the International Trade Center (ITC), from 2004 to 2023, mainland China consumed nearly 25 billion USD of whitefish. Of which, Russia is the largest supplier of whitefish to China with nearly 15 billion USD, accounting for 60% of the proportion.

Vietnam is the second largest supplier of whitefish (mainly pangasius) to China, after Russia, with nearly 3 billion USD, accounting for 11% of China's total whitefish imports in the past 20 years. In fact, this billion-people market has only officially imported whitefish from Vietnam since 2012. Before that, since 2004, China had hardly imported whitefish products from Vietnam, but mainly imported from Norway, Russia, Canada, the Netherlands, the US, South Korea, etc.

The most popular whitefish product among Chinese consumers is frozen Alaska pollock. Over the past 20 years, since 2004, China has imported nearly 9 billion USD of this product, accounting for 36% of the total value of whitefish imports from the world. In addition to frozen Alaska pollock, frozen cod dishes are also very popular.

Frozen pangasius fillets ranked 4th in the "most popular whitefish menu" in China. Starting to import in 2012, by 2023, China's import value of this product reached 2.2 billion USD. Of which, the import value in 2022 reached the highest level, with 492 million USD, an increase of 134% compared to 2021. In the first seven months of this year, this billion-people country bought a total of 86 million USD of frozen pangasius fillets, down 41% compared to the same period last year. Vietnam has been the sole supplier of this product to China since the beginning of this year.

It can be said that China is the largest consumer market for Vietnamese pangasius exports. Reasonable price, rich nutrition of pangasius, similarity in taste, and convenient transportation are some of the outstanding advantages that make Vietnamese pangasius one of the favorite white fish products in China.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, there is still a lot of room to exploit the potential of the Chinese market. Vietnamese businesses should research and diversify their pangasius products exported to this market, in addition to the main product of frozen fillets.

Tra fish harvesting in An Giang. Photo: Le Hoang Vu

Pangasius exports are promising

According to the report of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, Vietnam's pangasius exports in the third quarter of 2024 are estimated at 544 million USD, an increase of nearly 14% compared to the third quarter of 2023. Pangasius exports in the first 9 months of 2024 brought in a turnover of 1.46 billion USD, an increase of 8% over the same period last year. Of which, although the processed pangasius group accounted for a modest proportion, it increased dramatically by 42%, frozen whole pangasius increased by 24%, and frozen pangasius fillets/cut pieces increased slightly by 4%.

Pangasius exports in the first 9 months of this year are considered quite positive compared to the same period last year, when the entire export turnover continuously recorded positive growth. However, data from the General Department of Customs shows that in the first half of September 2024, some major markets witnessed a slight decline such as China and Hong Kong down 19%, of which Hong Kong alone down 17%, Thailand down 23%.

According to VASEP experts, with expectations that pangasius export prices will continue to warm up and export turnover will grow, Vietnam's pangasius exports in the third quarter of 2024 will still achieve positive results, as markets are gradually preparing goods to meet consumer demand during the 2024 year-end festival. Notably, value-added pangasius products will continue to break through and grow strongly in markets, especially China. Therefore, preparing goods to meet market demand will help businesses not waste potential and opportunities to expand market share for these products.

In Brazil, Vietnamese pangasius is the number 1 choice among white fish species that this country imports from the world. According to Vietnam Customs data, the cumulative export of Vietnamese pangasius to Brazil as of September 15, 2024 recorded a positive growth of 26% over the same period last year, reaching more than 81 million USD. Of which, in the first half of September alone, the export value of pangasius to this market reached nearly 5 million USD, an increase of 3% over the same period in 2023. Brazil is the 3rd largest destination for Vietnamese pangasius, after China and the US.

Source: https://danviet.vn/viet-nam-la-nguon-cung-duy-nhat-loai-ca-xep-vi-tri-th-tu-trong-menu-ca-thit-trang-duoc-ua-thich-o-trung-quoc-20241017175003615.htm