According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), China is the world’s largest importer of whitefish. The huge demand in this market creates millions of orders, worth billions of dollars each year. In particular, Vietnam's pangasius products have been among the most popular products in China over the past 20 years.

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

Vietnam is the second largest supplier of whitefish (mainly pangasius) to China, after Russia, with nearly USD 3 billion, and accounting for 11% of China's total whitefish imports in the past 20 years. The Chinese market has only officially imported white fish from Vietnam since 2012. Before 2004, China almost did not import white fish products from Vietnam, but mainly from Norway, Russia, Canada, the Netherlands, the US, Republic of Korea, etc.

The whitefish product most favored by Chinese consumers is frozen Alaska pollock HS code 030367. Over the past 20 years, since 2004, China has imported nearly USD 9 billion of this product, accounting for 36% of the total value of whitefish imports from the world.

2019 was the year when China imported frozen Alaska pollock HS code 030367 with the highest value, at USD 941 million, an increase of 44% compared to 2018. In the first seven months of this year, China imported this product with a value of USD 376 million, a decrease of 28% compared to the same period last year. Of which, April recorded the highest value, at USD 104 million, a decrease of 19% compared to April 2023.

Frozen Pangasius Fillet HS code 030462 ranked 4th in the "most popular whitefish menu" in China. Imports of this product started in 2012. In 2023, the import value of this product in China reached USD 2.2 billion, of which 2022 reached the highest level, with USD 492 million, an increase of 134% compared to 2021.

In the first 7 months of this year, China bought a total of USD 86 million worth of frozen pangasius fillets, a decrease of 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 of Vietnam's pangasius. Reasonable price, rich nutrition of pangasius, similarity in taste and convenient transportation are some outstanding advantages that make Vietname's pangasius one of the favorite white fish products in China. Vietnam's enterprises should conduct research and diversify pangasius products exported to this market, besides the main product of frozen fillets.

Kylie Nguyen