CAN THO – Vietnam’s tra fish (pangasius) exports to the U.S. have increased sharply as U.S. importers stockpile supplies before a 20% tariff takes effect on August 1, industry data showed.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported that U.S. buyers have boosted orders to secure shipments before the tariff deadline. Vietnamese exporters have sped up deliveries and prioritized high-value processed products to offset potential cost increases, while limiting new orders.
Tra fish exports to the U.S. had reached US$158 million by mid-June, up 8% from the same period last year, driven by contracts signed earlier in 2025. Processed tra fish products under HS16 code surged to over US$8 million in the first five months, a nearly ninefold rise against a year earlier, making up 39% of Vietnam’s total processed tra fish exports.
Frozen tra fish fillets, the main export to the U.S., hit US$131 million in the first five months, up 1%, accounting for one-fifth of Vietnam’s global tra fish fillet exports.
May exports peaked at US$38 million, a 27% increase versus the same month in 2024. Dried tra fish and other frozen products also grew, reaching nearly US$3 million, up 66% from the previous year.
