Brazil Officially Opens Market Access for Vietnam’s Pangasius
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The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil (MAPA) has recently announced its decision to open the market for selected pangasius products from Vietnam, marking an important milestone in Vietnam’s seafood export expansion to South America.
According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Brazil, upcoming negotiations between the two sides will focus on completing the final technical procedures that will allow Brazil to import all types of pangasius fillet products, in line with internationally recognized standards and practices.
Opportunities for Vietnamese Seafood Exporters
The Trade Office affirmed that Brazil’s decision to grant market access for Vietnamese pangasius fillets will create significant opportunities for Vietnamese seafood exporters.
In addition to pangasius, Brazil is also lifting its import ban on tilapia and plans to open the market for several other seafood products soon, following international safety and sustainability standards.
This development will not only boost export turnover but also help balance the trade deficit and contribute to the goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to USD 15 billion by 2030.
Brazil – Vietnam’s Third Largest Pangasius Importer
In recent years, Brazil has emerged as Vietnam’s third-largest pangasius importer, after China and the United States.
Currently, about 90% of seafood imports from Vietnam to Brazil are pangasius products.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), from 2015 to 2024, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil recorded impressive growth, with an average annual growth rate of around 14%.
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In 2015, export value reached USD 77.7 million.
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By 2024, it rose to USD 129.3 million, representing a 66% increase over the 10-year period.
Strong Growth in Early 2025
During the first quarter of 2025, Brazil continued to strengthen its position as one of the top three destinations for Vietnamese pangasius.
According to Vietnam Customs, pangasius exports to Brazil reached USD 55 million, up 67% year-on-year, reaffirming the country’s growing appetite for Vietnamese seafood.
The most popular product category remains frozen cut pangasius fillets (HS code 0304), while dried or processed pangasius products account for a very small share of Brazil’s imports.
This reflects a consistent market preference that has characterized Brazil’s pangasius imports for many years.
Diverse Pangasius Fillet Products from Vietnam
Vietnam currently exports a wide range of pangasius fillet products, including:
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White meat fillet (Well-trimmed fillet)
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Red meat fillet (Untrimmed fillet)
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Semi-trimmed fillet
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Breaded pangasius fillet
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Marinated pangasius fillet
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Frozen fillet without additives
Global Outlook and Vietnam’s Industry Leadership
According to the Rabobank Global Aquaculture Outlook 2025, global pangasius production is expected to increase by 7% year-on-year.
Vietnam will remain the world’s leading producer and exporter, with both output and export value on the rise.
Despite increasing competition from China, India, and Indonesia, Vietnam is expected to maintain a strong advantage, supported by resilient production capacity and global trade relationships amid ongoing supply chain shifts.
Expert Insights from VASEP
Ms. Thu Hằng, a pangasius industry expert from VASEP, commented:
“Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to maintain a positive growth trajectory after achieving over USD 2 billion in export revenue in 2024. Exporters will likely focus more on value-added products, which are seeing rising global demand.
Brazil’s market opening represents a major opportunity for both the pangasius sector and Vietnam’s broader seafood industry.”
According to Vietnam Customs data, over the past decade, Vietnam’s total pangasius exports have grown impressively from USD 1.6 billion in 2015 to over USD 2 billion in 2024, peaking at USD 2.4 billion in 2022 — the highest on record.
Conclusion
The opening of the Brazilian market for Vietnamese pangasius reinforces Vietnam’s position as a global leader in sustainable aquaculture.
It also marks a new step forward in bilateral trade cooperation, unlocking new opportunities for Vietnamese seafood exporters in one of the most promising markets in Latin America.