Vietnam was estimated to export 210,000 tonnes of "tra" and "basa" catfish in 2006, earning US$560 million, according to the Ministry of Fisheries.

The export value of tra and basa catfish increased in all markets, including Eastern Europe as well as the EU. The fisheries sector fetched US$54.9 million from Russia and US$45 million from Poland in 2006.

The prices of tra and basa catfish for export in the Mekong Delta have risen sharply to VND12,500-14,500 per kilo.