Vietnamese pangasius exports reached US$438.2 million in the first quarter, up 18% year-on-year.

The top three markets during the quarter were Hong Kong (up 45%), the US (up 22.7%) and ASEAN (up 56.5%), according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

By the end of March, the value of pangasius exported to Hong Kong hit $101.1 million, accounting for 23% of the first-quarter total exports. Exports of pangasius to this market are forecast to continue to grow due to high demand, VASEP said.

Pangasius export value to the US, the second-largest market, reached nearly $75 million, accounting for 17% of total pangasius exports in the first three months.

Exports of pangasius to the 10-nation ASEAN, the third-largest market, also increased strongly in the first quarter, reaching $46.7 million in value.

Vietnam's three biggest pangasius importers in the bloc were Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines.  

Exports of the product to the EU, another major market, continued to decline, by 17.7% to $41 million.