At the show, Undercurrent reported tilapia production in Mexico outstripped shrimp output by 30,000t last year, as shrimp harvestswere decimated by early mortality syndrome (EMS).
The growth means the government is now pinning hopes on tilapia, which is growing at a fast pace, as the most promising species for the country’s aquaculture.
Tilapia is also buoyed by a strong domestic demand, Alfredo Aranda, general coordinator of operations and institutional strategy at the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (Sagarpa) said during the event.
Mexicans consume some 130,000t of tilapia a year. Mexico’s shrimp harvest fell by 50% year-on-year last year, to just 50,000t, due in a large part to EMS. In contrast, tilapia production rose 6.6% to 80,000t.
To lure domestic customers, however, Mexican growers will have to find ways to compete with much cheaper imports from China.
“Until last year, shrimp was the most important Mexico’s aquaculture species in volumes and value, but due to EMS, tilapia already exceeded shrimp production,” Aranda said.
For next year, tilapia production is expected to reach 87,000t and, with a growth rate of 53.3%, tilapia could total 100,000t by 2016, Aranda said.
Shrimp harvest, on the other hand, is forecast to remain flat at 60,000t in 2014, before increasing to 80,000t in 2016 with a growth rate of just 9.6%. By 2018, harvests are expected to exceed pre-EMS production with volumes projected at 110,000t.
“We aim to recover shrimp volumes but, at the same time, we are betting on tilapia due to its trend in the market,” Aranda said.
Big domestic market
Tilapia has good growth potential in Mexico thanks to the country’s tropical climate, and increase domestic demand.
Its geographic location also makes it ideally poised to export to US. Last year, the US imported record high volumes of tilapia fillets, bringing in 59m pounds (26,761t).
“Mexico produces around 70,000t metric tons of tilapia annually, and it consumes 130,000t, so the potential is there,” Miguel A. Flores from Regal Springs Mexico said during the Aquamar conference.
The rest of the tilapia that Mexico consumes — 60,000t — is currently imported from China.
Competition with China could be a challenge for Mexican growers as tilapia prices from China are about 30% below Mexican prices, which are usually at around $2.5 per kilo of whole fish, Gonzalo Martinez, administration manager at the tilapia farm Tupez, based in Veracruz, told Undercurrent.
“If you export considerable volumes of fillets to the US the business will be profitable, but producing tilapia for Mexico is challenging, as retailers and consumers from the central area of the country would prefer to spend less money on tilapia,” Martinez said.
“However, locals from coastal areas will spend extra money to consume tilapia of quality,” he added.
Another Mexican tilapia player said the fodservice sector and retailers would prefer to buy big volumes from China over local tilapia, due to the price.
On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will host Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.” The summit will discuss market scenarios and strategic options to help Vietnam’s seafood industry unlock new growth opportunities, increase export value, and strengthen its competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the EU reached more than USD 4 million, up 2% year on year. The EU accounted for 4% of total tilapia export value, ranking behind major markets such as Brazil, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the CPTPP bloc.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2026, in Hanoi, Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), was awarded the Top 30 Outstanding Cultural and Reputable Enterprises of 2026 certificate by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). This group represents the most distinguished companies among the 100 enterprises honored at the “Cultural and Reputable Enterprises 2026” announcement ceremony.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the EU reached approximately $148 million, up 12% compared to the same period in 2025. In September 2026 alone, export turnover to this market hit $18 million, a 27% year-on-year increase. Despite diverging demand across member states, the EU remains a market with growth potential for Vietnamese pangasius, particularly as supplies of several traditional whitefish species face mounting pressure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the US are showing a clear recovery after a difficult start to the year. However, the rebound is taking place against a backdrop of declining US tuna imports and a shifting supply structure, posing new challenges for Vietnamese businesses.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan reached US$440.9 million, up 6.4% year on year. This result is noteworthy as Japan’s total shrimp imports continued to decline slightly and competition among suppliers intensified. Demand for convenience foods and processed products continues to create opportunities for Vietnamese exporters, but capitalizing on these opportunities requires stronger competitiveness and the ability to meet increasingly specific market requirements.
(vasep.com.vn) After slowing in the first months of the year, Vietnam’s tuna exports have shown a clear improvement since June 2026. However, behind September’s double-digit growth lies a notable reality: export value is recovering, but pressures from markets, trade policies, and competition among suppliers remain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached US$1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. In September alone, exports totaled US$210 million, an increase of 16%. China, the United States, and Brazil were the three largest markets, accounting for 49% of total export value. While China and Brazil maintained their growth momentum, exports to the US remained below the level recorded in the same period last year.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
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