Vietnamese Tilapia Continues to Expand Strongly Across Markets
By market, Brazil remained the largest destination, with export value reaching USD 7 million, accounting for 49% of total exports in March. The United States ranked second with USD 4 million, representing 28%, up 16% year-on-year. Together, these two markets accounted for 77% of total exports, indicating a high level of dependence on key markets.
Meanwhile, several markets posted remarkable growth. Exports to Saudi Arabia reached USD 840 thousand, up 563%, while the Dominican Republic recorded USD 451 thousand, up 134%. In Asia, Japan reached USD 418 thousand, up 110%, and Malaysia reached USD 398 thousand, up 406%, showing rapidly rising demand for tilapia products.
Other markets such as Belgium recorded USD 301 thousand, up 15%, while South Korea reached USD 132 thousand, down 31%. Emerging markets like Papua New Guinea and Colombia recorded export values of USD 101 thousand and USD 99 thousand, respectively.
By market bloc, exports to CPTPP countries in March 2026 reached USD 1 million, accounting for 7% of total exports, up 29% year-on-year. Exports to the Middle East reached USD 878 thousand, accounting for 6%, up sharply by 460%, while ASEAN reached USD 435 thousand, accounting for 3%, up 433%. In contrast, exports to the European Union reached USD 516 thousand, accounting for 4%, down 14%.
Growth Driven by Key Markets
Overall, tilapia exports in March 2026 recorded strong growth, with the main drivers being Brazil and the United States, which together accounted for 77% of total export value. Growth in these two markets played a decisive role in the sector’s overall performance. Meanwhile, other markets such as Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Japan saw impressive growth rates—many exceeding 100%—but their relatively small scale limited their overall contribution.
Although still modest in share, these emerging markets are considered to have strong potential in the long-term development strategy, helping Vietnam’s tilapia sector gradually reduce its dependence on a few major markets and enhance export sustainability. However, in the short term, rapid expansion into these markets remains constrained by production capacity and export capabilities. Currently, many Vietnamese enterprises continue to focus on expanding their presence in the U.S.—a large and stable market. In the long run, however, market diversification will be essential to ensure sustainable growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
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