Vietnamese pangasius exports are having to compete with cod and pollock

Vietnamese pangasius fish is processed for export - Photo: THAO THUONG

According to VASEP, the competition with rivals to gain market share for exported Vietnamese pangasius products is increasingly difficult and fierce.

VASEP cited the "gut" markets for Vietnamese pangasius exports as China, the US, the EU, CPTPP... However, these markets are currently consuming cod and pollock strongly because of their delicious taste and nutrition.

"Cod is considered the "king" of fish, with high brand value. Pollock is also very nutritious, with a more stable price than other types of fish. Since 2021, China has increased its consumption of these two types of fish. The same goes for the US, 2022 is the year the US has eaten the most cod to date.

In addition, frozen tilapia fillets are also popular in the US, second only to cod fillets. These are strong competitors of Vietnamese pangasius," said a VASEP expert.

The solution for Vietnamese pangasius to overcome the "race" to enter many markets, this expert suggested: "Vietnamese pangasius needs to improve product quality, ensure food safety and hygiene, apply international standards; build a brand, seek high-end markets, develop value-added products...".

On August 12, speaking with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Phan The Quang ( Can Tho City) - a seafood processing and exporting enterprise - said that previously Alaska pollock was preferred over pangasius because it was naturally exploited, and the price was equivalent to, or even cheaper than, farmed pangasius.

Mr. Quang said: "In 2007-2008, many countries minimized the exploitation of Alaska pollock to maintain natural production, causing the supply of pollock products to decrease sharply.

As a result, the price of pangasius suddenly skyrocketed because many importers in the US and European countries chose it as a substitute for pollock.

After a period of reduced exploitation, the output of natural pollock has now recovered, and some familiar markets for Vietnamese pangasius have returned to this traditional product.

Mr. Quang analyzed that Vietnamese pangasius has advantages such as low price; large and stable output; processed into many different products, meeting many markets.

"However, the quality of tra fish products is uneven, facing many trade barriers, unfair competition such as dumping, trade fraud...

Only by improving quality to enter high-end markets can we regain a long-term position for Vietnamese pangasius," Mr. Quang commented.

In addition, some other seafood exporting enterprises said that Vietnamese pangasius also faces great competition from other catfish producing countries such as India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc.

Vietnam ranks second in exporting white fish to China

According to data from the International Trade Center (ITC), Vietnam is the second largest supplier in the race to export white fish to China, after Russia.

In the first half of this year, China imported nearly 80,000 tons of whitefish, mainly pangasius, from Vietnam, down 17% compared to the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, imports from the US reached 45,000, up 57%.

The General Department of Customs reported that in the first half of July 2024, Vietnam's pangasius exports reached 85 million USD, an increase of 22% over the same period in 2023. Cumulative exports as of July 15, 2024 reached more than 1 billion USD, an increase of 6% over the same period last year.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ca-tra-viet-nam-xuat-khau-dang-phai-do-suc-voi-ca-tuyet-ca-minh-thai-20240812150159429.htm