Vietnam represents largest pangasius supplier to Colombia

According to the General Department of Customs, pangasius exports to Colombia in August alone brought in more than US$6 million, an increase of 37% compared to August 2023. Since the beginning of this year, the South American nation recorded the highest import value in August 2024. Cumulative pangasius exports during the eight-month span to this market reached US$35 million, an increase of 44% over the same period from last year.

According to data from the International Trade Center (ITC), in the first half of this year, there were a total of 9 suppliers of white fish to Colombia. Of which, Vietnam was the largest supplier of white fish (mainly pangasius) to Colombia, with nearly US$19 million, up 15% on-year.

Vietnam accounted for 66% of the total whitefish that Colombia imported from the world in the first half of this year.

China is the second largest supplier of whitefish to Colombia after Vietnam with a share of 32%. The import value of whitefish from Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, the US, Uruguay, Panama, and Chile to Colombia is almost negligible and tends to have negative growth.

Some of the white fish products imported the most by Colombia in the first half of this year include frozen pangasius, catfish HS code 030324 accounting for 44% of the proportion; frozen tilapia fillets HS code 030461 making up for 30% of the proportion; frozen catfish fillets HS code 030462 constituting 20% of the total value of white fish imported by this nation from the world.

Colombian consumers are very fond of frozen pangasius and catfish products with HS code 030324. In the first half of this year, the country imported more than US$12 million of products with HS code 030324 from Vietnam, up 27% on-year, accounting for 98% of the total value of Colombia's imports of this product from the world.

Colombia is the fourth largest economy in Latin America and is also an advanced freshwater aquaculture country in South America with strong tilapia products. However, the country still maintains stable imports of frozen pangasius products from Vietnam.

Export value to this lucrative market is even more positive in the last months of the year, when hotels and restaurants increase their demand for stockpiling to serve holidays and year-end festivals.

Vietnam has 18 enterprises exporting white fish (mainly pangasius) to Colombia during the past 8 months of this year.

Vinh Tien is recognized as the enterprise exporting the most pangasius to this market, accounting for 45% of the total export value to Colombia.

Nam Viet 23%, Cadovimex II 8%, Ben Tre Seafood 6%, Phat Tien Seafood 5%, respectively behind Vinh Tien, are the top enterprises exporting the most pangasius to the Colombian market.