Exports up 54% in the first half of 2026
According to trade statistics, Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan reached nearly USD 200,000 in June 2026, up 11% year-on-year. Cumulative exports for the first six months of the year totaled approximately USD 1.4 million, representing a 54% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Frozen tilapia fillets under HS code 0304 accounted for the largest share of exports, making up approximately 67% of total export value. Other frozen fish products under HS Chapter 03 represented 10%, while value-added products under HS Chapter 16 accounted for around 21%, with the remainder consisting of other product categories.
This export structure indicates that Vietnam's tilapia shipments to Japan remain heavily concentrated in frozen fillets, while demand for higher-value processed products has begun to emerge.
From a conventional whitefish to a sushi ingredient
One of the most notable milestones in 2026 has been the successful export of Vietnamese tilapia fillets to Japan for sushi and sashimi processing. After years of investment in farming and processing systems tailored to the premium value-added food segment, the products have received positive feedback from Japanese customers for both quality and taste.
To be used in sushi and sashimi, tilapia must comply with stringent requirements covering farming conditions, water quality, raw materials, processing, freezing technology, parasite control, food safety, and full traceability. The successful entry of Vietnamese products into this segment demonstrates that domestic producers are now capable of managing the entire production chain and meeting the rigorous standards of a high-end market.
The appearance of Vietnamese tilapia on sushi menus also helps reshape market perceptions of the species. Once regarded primarily as a whitefish exported in whole or frozen fillet form, tilapia is now being positioned as an ingredient for premium products that demand higher standards of quality, presentation, and culinary experience.
Creating new room for value-added products
Compared with the United States and Brazil—which currently account for a larger share of Vietnam's tilapia exports—Japan may not generate dramatic export volumes in the short term. However, the market's strategic value lies in its ability to establish benchmark quality standards and pave the way for premium processed seafood products.
Successfully exporting tilapia for sushi and sashimi not only increases the value generated from each unit of raw material but also creates opportunities for processors to develop a broader portfolio of products, including sliced fillets, portion-controlled packs, ready-to-eat items, seasoned products, and other value-added offerings.
The 54% export growth recorded in the first half of 2026, together with the shift toward frozen fillets and value-added products, suggests that Japan is opening a new avenue for Vietnam's tilapia industry. Beyond market expansion, this development marks an important step in the industry's transformation—from exporting conventional seafood products to supplying premium, high-value segments with stringent quality requirements.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(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.
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