Lent 2027 Pangasius Orders: When to Book for Mexico, Latin America and Europe

In short: Lent 2027 begins on Ash Wednesday, 10 February, and Holy Week runs from 21 to 28 March. Vietnam's Lunar New Year (Tết) falls four days before Lent, on 6 February. For pangasius to reach Mexican cold stores by late January, containers need to sail from Vietnam by mid-December, which puts the purchase order and approved specification around 1 December.

Why does Lent matter for pangasius demand?

In Catholic markets across Latin America and southern and central Europe, many households replace meat with fish on Fridays in Lent, and importers build stock in the first quarter. Mild, boneless pangasius fillet is one of the most affordable white fish on those shelves. Mexico is a major destination: Vietnam shipped about US$77 million of pangasius there in 2025 and US$56 million to Colombia, VASEP figures we summarise in our Mexico and Colombia import guide.

Supply timing in Vietnam matters as much as demand. SeafoodSource reported in October 2026 that raw material prices had risen on strong export demand, that fish from the new crop should reach harvest size from mid-November, and that prices were expected to stay firm through December ahead of Lunar New Year. Booking Lent volume early fixes the size, price and loading slot before the year-end rush.

Which dates matter in 2027?

Working back from Ash Wednesday: a timeline for Mexico

Transit times come from published carrier schedules for Ho Chi Minh City to Manzanillo; the fastest direct services take a little over 23 days. Routes to Colombia and Europe are usually longer, so add the difference from your carrier's schedule. For Holy Week top-ups, a container that sails by mid-January arrives in mid-February. One that sails after Tết, in mid-February, lands around the third week of March, which is tight for Holy Week.

What should you agree in the order now?

Size and trim. Set the size grade in grams per piece, for example 120-170 or 170-220, and the trim, with a reference photo signed by both sides. Our guide to buying frozen pangasius fillets explains each option.

Glaze and net weight. State the glaze percentage and declare net weight without glaze, as the Codex standard for quick frozen fish fillets (CXS 190-1995) requires.

Packing and labels. Spanish retail labels for Mexico follow NOM-051. Label artwork has to be approved before cartons go to print, which adds days to a first order.

Documents. Align the HACCP certificate, the CPTPP proof of origin for Mexico and the health certificate wording with your customs broker before the vessel sails.

Our spec pack lists the trims, sizes and packing we supply, and what moves a pangasius quote shows how to compare offers on the same basis.

Lent programmes with TBESFOOD

TBESFOOD packs pangasius fillet to the buyer's specification for Mexico, Latin America and Europe, with ASC, BAP and HACCP certification across 3 factories in TBES Group. To secure Lent 2027 volume, send the size, trim, glaze basis, packing, quantity and destination port to export@tbesfood.com or WhatsApp +84 932 072 978.

Frequently asked questions

When does Lent 2027 start?

Lent 2027 starts on Ash Wednesday, 10 February 2027. Holy Week runs from 21 to 28 March, and Easter Sunday is 28 March.

When should importers order pangasius for Lent 2027?

For stock in Mexico by late January, place the order and approve the specification around 1 December 2026, so the container sails by mid-December. For Holy Week top-ups, order by mid-December for a mid-January sailing.

How long does shipping take from Vietnam to Mexico?

About 23 to 35 days from Ho Chi Minh City to Manzanillo, depending on the service, plus about a week for clearance and inland delivery.

Does Tết affect pangasius shipments?

Tết falls on 6 February 2027. Production and port activity slow around the holiday, so plan Lent sailings for December to mid-January.

Sources

SeafoodSource (19 October 2026). Raw material prices in Vietnam's pangasius sector rise as supply tightens, export demand grows. seafoodsource.com

VASEP, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers: pangasius export statistics. seafood.vasep.com.vn

Codex Alimentarius. Standard for Quick Frozen Fish Fillets, CXS 190-1995. fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius