Pangasius

Pangasius, commercially represented mainly by striped catfish (Pangasius hypophthalmus), is a freshwater aquaculture species from Southeast Asia, which has become a significant component of global whitefish supply. Commercial production is based on intensive farming in freshwater ponds and cages, and the sector is strongly centered in Asia. Viet Nam remains by far the leading producer and exporter, while other important producing countries include Indonesia, China and India.

Pangasius is used mainly for human consumption and is marketed above all as frozen fillets, steaks, although fresh and frozen whole and HGT fish also remain important in Asian markets. Its commercial importance is linked to its affordability, mild taste, white flesh, and versatility in cooking, which makes it suitable for retail, catering, and value-added processing across a wide range of price segments.

With production of 1,65 million tones in 2025 the main aquaculture nation for pangasius is clearly Viet Nam, which dominates both production and export trade.