Pangasius export sees positive signs in China and Hongkong

Pangasius export value reached $334 million in the first three months of 2020, down 29.3% from last year. In Mar 2020, the export value of Vietnamese pangasius to China-Hongkong increased by 109% compared to Jan 2020.

By the end of Mar 2020, the export value of pangasius to China-Hongkong reached $63.2 million, accounting for 18.9% of the total of pangasius export value and down 36.4% from last year. And yet, it is still a positive sign compared to earlier this year when the covid-19 outbreak was overwhelming. China and Hongkong are the biggest destinations of Vietnamese pangasius in the first quarter of 2020 with export value in March reaching $34.7 million, up 109% compared to Jan 2020. It is forecasted that pangasius exports in the second quarter this year will strongly recover and increase by 30-40% from last year.

Sales of Vietnamese pangasius to the US in Mar 2020 reached $23 million, up 26.4% from compared to the same period last year. The total export value to this market by the end of Mar was $61.7 million, accounting for 18.5%, down 13.2% from last year.

Vietnam took in $36.5 million from pangasius exports to the EU by the end of Mar 2020, down 36.5% from last year, with sales to the top four markets the Netherlands down 31.4%, German down 30%, Belgium down 45.3% and Span down 30% compared to the same period last year.

The country saw a slump in pangasius exports to core markets like ASEAN, Brazil, Mexico, Columbia and Australia in Mar 2020. In particular, pangasius export value to ASEAN declines by 29%, Brazil down 19%, Mexico down 57.8%, and Columbia down 12% compared to the same period last year.