By mid-July more than 295,000 tons of tra worth US$668 million were exported, leaving shrimp trailing behind.
Volumes have risen 50 times and revenues 65 times in the last decade.
The Egyptian and Dutch governments have said Vietnamese catfish is completely safe.
The US has announced it will no longer levy anti-dumping or import duties on seafood exported by six Vietnamese companies.
Catfish exports are forecast to soar further during the year-end because of the holiday season.
But despite all this, farmers in the Mekong Delta get only VN13,500 to 14,800 for a kilogram of tra while the market price is VND15,000-15,500.
Catfish Farmers Struggle While Exports Surge
VIETNAM - Tra catfish accounts for the largest chunk of seafood exports and is expected to fetch US$1.2-1.3 billion this year, but farmers have not profited much from this and continue to struggle.
