Pangasius Fillet Price: What Moves a Quote from Vietnam

Two quotes for "frozen pangasius fillet, Vietnam" can sit far apart and both be fair. The gap usually comes from the spec behind each price: how much of the carton is fish, how the fillet is trimmed, which size grade it is, and who pays the freight. This guide lists the variables that move a pangasius fillet price, so you can line quotes up and compare the same product. The grades TBESFOOD packs are on our frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam page.

What sets the base price of pangasius fillets?

Raw fish. Pangasius takes six to eight months to grow out, so farm supply responds slowly to demand. VASEP, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, reported that farm-gate prices in the Mekong Delta rose to 33,000 to 34,000 VND per kg in early 2026, well above a year earlier, as raw fish ran short. Export demand held up at the same time: pangasius exports reached US$720 million in the first four months of 2026, up 17% year on year.

A quote is a snapshot of that raw fish market. Ask how long the price is valid and which shipment month it covers.

Which spec choices change the price per kilo?

1. Net weight and glaze

This is where quotes differ most. Frozen fillets carry an ice glaze, and a 10 kg carton can hold 10 kg of fish or 8 kg of fish and 2 kg of glaze. Ask whether the price is per kilo of net fish or per kilo of glazed product. A price per glazed kilo at 80% net weight works out 25% higher per kilo of fish. In the EU the declared net weight excludes the glaze (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, Annex IX), so write the net weight into the contract and check it on arrival by deglazing a sample.

2. Trim grade and colour

Well-trimmed fillets, with red meat, fat and belly removed, take more labour and yield less fillet per fish than semi-trimmed or untrimmed fillets, so they cost more. Flesh colour is graded too: white, light pink or light yellow. Agree the grade against a reference photo that both sides sign.

3. Size grade

Fillets are graded in grams per piece, for example 120-170, 170-220 or 220 up. Larger grades need larger fish and usually carry a premium. If your process allows it, a wider grade such as 170 up can bring the price down.

4. Treatment

Some fillets are soaked in a water-retaining agent before freezing; others are sold chemical-free. EU rules allow phosphates (E 338 to E 452) in frozen fish fillets up to 5,000 mg/kg, expressed as P2O5 (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008, Annex II). A treated fillet and a chemical-free fillet are different products, so state which one you are pricing.

5. Freezing and packing

IQF fillets in bags, interleaved fillets and bulk cartons are each priced differently. Printed retail bags, your own brand, extra labels and smaller pack sizes add cost per kilo. A 40-foot reefer holds a fixed volume, so pack format also changes how much fish you get per container.

6. Certification

ASC or BAP certified fish comes from audited farms and plants and usually costs more than uncertified product. If you need the logo on pack, read what to ask an ASC pangasius supplier.

7. Incoterm, freight and payment

FOB, CFR and CIF quotes cannot be compared until you add freight and insurance to the same port. Reefer rates change from month to month. Payment terms count as well, because a large deposit and a small deposit carry different financing costs for the seller.

How do you compare two pangasius quotes like for like?

Put both quotes on the same basis before you compare them:

1. Price per kilo of net fish: divide the quoted price by the net weight percentage.
2. The same Incoterm and port: add freight and insurance to an FOB quote to match a CFR or CIF quote.
3. The same spec line: trim, colour, size grade, treatment, freezing method and pack.
4. The same validity: shipment month and how long the price holds.

If one quote is still far below the others after these steps, ask for a pre-shipment sample and a third-party check of net weight and glaze before you pay the balance.

How does TBESFOOD quote pangasius fillets?

We quote against a written spec sheet: trim grade, colour, size grade, net weight, glaze, treatment, freezing method and pack, with the Incoterm and shipment month stated. Every price comes with the same sheet, so when a price changes you can see whether the spec or the market moved. Send us your spec and we will quote against it.

For the import side, see our guides for the EU and for Mexico and Colombia, and the general guide to buying frozen pangasius fillets from Vietnam.

FAQ

Why are pangasius fillet prices higher in 2026?

Raw fish has been short. VASEP reported Mekong Delta farm-gate prices of 33,000 to 34,000 VND per kg early in 2026, and with a grow-out cycle of six to eight months, supply takes time to catch up with demand.

Is the lowest price per kilo always the cheapest?

No. Compare the price per kilo of net fish on the same Incoterm. A lower price at a lower net weight can cost more per kilo of fish.

What net weight should I ask for?

There is no single standard. Retail programmes often want a high net weight, while some foodservice buyers accept more glaze at a lower price. Whatever you choose, write the net weight, excluding glaze, into the contract and onto the label.

Do treated and chemical-free fillets cost the same?

No. They are priced as different products. In the EU, phosphates in frozen fish fillets are limited to 5,000 mg/kg as P2O5, so state the treatment in the contract and ask for test results if you buy chemical-free.