The price increase for Urner Barry quotations of 3-5 oz frozen tilapia fillets was the first jump since the beginning of July. Last week’s closing average price for the item was $2.35 lb about 24 percent higher compared to year ago levels and just shy of the five-year-high price reached in late 2010.
Importers said the summer price hike is a result of higher overseas replacement costs—or the import price per pound. According to Urner Barry’s latest Aquaculture Insider’s Report, overseas replacement costs in June were $2.05 per pound up 10 percent compared to the start of the year and the highest such value since May 2011.
The hike in replacement costs coincides with a 20 percent decline in US tilapia imports that have fallen to 140.9 million lbs; a near 40 million lb difference compared to year ago levels. The steep drop in frozen fillet imports is heavily attributed to a drop in Chinese imports—the top supplier to the US.
For example, YTD US imports of frozen Chinese tilapia fillets are down just over 20 percent to 124.5 million lbs.
According to one major importer, China’s production woes are a result of massive 2012 buying when US importers jumped on a glut of cheap tilapia last summer that drove US imports up 65 percent compared with 2011.
This jump on summer orders saw replacement costs—or the import value per pound—plummet from $1.94/lb in May 2012 to $1.75 in October of that year.
However, this ‘emptying of the ponds’ last year caused demand to exceed supply in 2013 which forced overseas replacement costs soaring 17 percent from $1.75 to the aforementioned $2.05/lb.
At the same time, higher replacement costs were met with increased production costs namely with feed prices. For example, CME Futures Prices for soybean meal are currently 10 percent above levels recorded in January 2011 and importers said these increased costs have pushed Chinese tilapia farmers out of the business, unable to produce under tighter margins.
And even though frozen tilapia fillet imports to the US typically follow a seasonal trend, peaking in January, bottoming out in March and steadily increasing through the remainder of the year. Importers said China’s overall supply base is significantly shorter in 2013 than in years past which is likely to result in less tilapia fillet imports to the US for the remainder of the year.
As the industry rounds out the third quarter, US importers are currently taking buying positions from overseas packers. And as importers head into the latter part of the year, further price hikes may be on the horizon amid China’s decreased production in tandem with a seasonal buying period ahead of the Chinese New Year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn