In June 2023, Vietnam's basa fish export industry was a mixed bag. On the negative side, exports in June were 58,447 tonnes, down 19% from a year earlier. On the positive side, the volume of exports increased by 2% month-on-month, and the average export price increased by 1% month-on-month, reversing the decline in May to reach $2.30/kg (this data covers all product specifications and is the average price of a comprehensive category, including all levels of ice clothing, ASC certification, value-added products, etc.).

In June, sales in China and Hong Kong were 22,082 tons, accounting for 38% of Vietnam's exports, down 1% from the previous month. Exports were about 281 million US dollars, down 34% year on year; The average price fell 4.8% month-on-month to $2.18/kg, making the lowest since February this year.

However, Chinese customs data showed that China imported $48 million of basa fish in June, down 15% from a year earlier and 4% from the previous month, and the decline in sales in June narrowed compared with April and May, when sales were down 30-60% from a year earlier.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) commented that "consumers’ demand in China has declined and inflation is close to zero. Expecting prices to fall further, Chinese importers and consumers delayed spending on purchases, leading to a sharp drop in goods trade. The consumer and producer price indices show that the world's second largest economy continued to weaken in May, and these factors have had a negative impact on the basa fish industry's exports to this market in the first half of the year."

In addition, sales of basa fish in ASEAN countries accounted for 13% of Vietnam's exports in June, and exports fell 12% month-on-month to 7,877 tons. The average price in the ASEAN region increased by 5.7% month-on-month to $1.93/kg, still down from $2.19/kg in the same period last year.

The US market performed very well, with sales increasing 57% month-on-month to 6,257 tonnes, accounting for 11% of Vietnam's export share. The average price in the United States increased 7.6% month-on-month to $3.42/kg. In the same period last year, the U.S. market sold 10,390 tons at an average price of $4.47/kg.

Eu markets were relatively flat. Sales in June were 4,295 tons, down 0.8% from the previous month, and the price was $2.56/kg, still the lowest since November last year.