According to the latest data from the Vietnam Association of Aquatic Products Processors and Exporters (VASEP), in the first half of May 2024, Vietnam's exports of Tra fish to China increased by 9% to US$22 million, but as of May 15, the cumulative export value fell by 14% compared with the same period last year.

China is the largest export market for Vietnamese Tra fish because of its reasonable price and delicious meat.

In the first four months of this year, the main Vietnamese companies exporting Tra fish to China include Changjiang Fisheries and Nanyue Shares. During the same period, Vietnam's exports of Tra fish to the world increased by 13% year-on-year, with a cumulative increase of 3%.

One fish and two shrimps support Vietnam's aquatic exports

Vietnam, as the world's fifth largest exporter of aquatic products, mainly relies on "one fish and two shrimps" for its aquatic exports.

The two shrimps here refer to white shrimp and tiger shrimp, while the one fish refers to Basa fish.

According to data released by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam in 2023, Vietnam's aquatic product exports in 2023 reached about US$9.2 billion, of which shrimp exports amounted to US$2.45 billion, and "basa fish" exports reached US$1.9 billion.

The two accounted for 47% of Vietnam's total aquatic product exports.

Is Tra fish a basa fish?

Although it is officially labeled as "basa fish", in fact, this fish is not a real "basa fish" (Vietnamese "Cá basa", its scientific name is Bo's giant catfish (Pangasius bocourti)), but Tra fish (Vietnamese "Cá tra"), its scientific name is Pangasianodon hypophthalmus.

With Vietnam's unique natural environment and combined with the national "catfish strategy" implemented since 1996-the strategy has made strict regulations and standards, Tra fish has emerged in the international market with its unique advantages of no bones and tender meat, and has become a "star export product" exported by Vietnam to China, Europe and the United States.

Tra fish - Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Bosa fish - Pangasius bocourti

The word "Basa fish" is the transliteration of the Vietnamese "Cá basa", while "Tra fish" is the transliteration of the Vietnamese "Cá tra", which is also transliterated as tea fish or hawthorn fish. The biggest difference between the two is that Basa fish has three large pieces of fat accumulated in the abdominal cavity, accounting for about 58% of its body weight. The fat content of Tra fish is relatively low, and it is mainly meat.

But they both belong to the order Siluriformes and the family Pangasiidae.

Since 2000, the appearance of the giant catfish (also known as the tra fish) has been similar to that of the giant catfish (basa fish) and has made breakthroughs in artificial breeding technology. It has gradually replaced the giant catfish and become the main aquatic species farmed and exported in Vietnam.

In order to maintain the continuity of the export brand of "basa fish", the Vietnamese government and aquatic companies have issued a special policy stipulating that from December 31, 2010, the products of the "low-eye and toothless giant catfish" (tra fish) can be labeled as "basa fish".

Tra fish export structure data

According to Phung Duc, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam Tien revealed that in 2023, the farming area of ​​​​Tra fish (basa fish) in Vietnam reached about 5,700 hectares, with a production of 1.61 million tons.

Relevant data show that in 2023, basa fish (mainly referring to Tra fish) brought Vietnam an export value of 1.837 billion US dollars. However, compared with 2022, this figure fell by 25%.

Despite this, compared with 2021, the overall export value still achieved a growth of 13.6%. Entering 2024, the export value of Vietnam's Tra fish in the first four months reached 579 million US dollars, an increase of nearly 2% year-on-year, showing a certain recovery momentum.

Data picture reproduced from the Internet