In his opening remarks, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries and the Fisheries Surveillance Department, noted that although Vietnam’s aquaculture sector has achieved considerable production volume, its economic efficiency remains modest due to low selling prices and increasing risks of disease outbreaks. To enhance competitiveness and economic returns, it is essential to diversify both farmed species and farming methods in which Vietnam holds comparative advantages. This approach not only contributes to production restructuring but also aligns with the development orientation of the fisheries sector and the objectives set forth in the Vietnam Fisheries Development Strategy to 2030.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam, Secretary General of VASEP, the United States considers Vietnam a country with strong potential for tilapia exports. As of 2024, the world’s top five tilapia-exporting countries and territories are Indonesia, Colombia, China, Brazil, and Taiwan (China).
The United States is currently among the world’s top five tilapia-importing markets. If the U.S. raises countervailing duties on Chinese seafood products to 245%, it is likely that China will redirect its tilapia either toward domestic consumption or other international markets. This scenario poses multiple challenges for Chinese exporters, including tariff barriers, stricter environmental regulations, and rising production costs.
Additionally, since the beginning of the year, two major tilapia-producing regions in China have mandated that processing facilities serving export markets may only source raw materials from certified farms. Farms lacking certification are prohibited from selling for export purposes. On top of U.S. countervailing duties, this new regulation further pressures China's tilapia export sector.
"Given these developments, tilapia prices are expected to decline in the short term, and Chinese enterprises will likely shift toward other markets, thereby increasing competitive pressure on alternative suppliers, including Vietnam," Mr. Nam commented. However, he emphasized that this situation also presents a significant opportunity for Vietnam to expand its tilapia export market, especially amid tightened Chinese supply.
Mr. Pham Thanh Trung, Deputy General Director of Nong Lam Vina, who has previous experience in tilapia farming and currently supplies feed to farms in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, shared that the greatest challenge facing Vietnamese tilapia farmers today is securing market access.
He urged local authorities, agricultural agencies, and processing enterprises to proactively identify and develop export outlets for tilapia farmers. He stressed the importance of establishing supply chain linkages between farms and processing plants, stating: “If policymakers fail to establish an integrated value chain between farming areas and processors, farmers will be left to sell their products individually and informally.”
In recent times, a number of pioneering enterprises have made initial investments in tilapia farming for export. Although current export volumes remain modest, these efforts have laid the foundation for market expansion and created momentum to boost domestic tilapia production.
At the seminar, participants heard presentations by representatives from the Directorate of Fisheries, VASEP, and tilapia production experts from De Heus. Topics included: the global tilapia market outlook for 2024–2025 and Vietnam’s tilapia export strategy; national policies on planning for tilapia farming and processing; current farming practices and production conditions in Vietnam, along with proposed solutions; as well as reports on local aquaculture development and the potential and strategic direction for tilapia farming.
The seminar provided stakeholders with a comprehensive and practical understanding of the current state of tilapia production and export, paving the way for concrete solutions to promote tilapia farming and export activities. These efforts are expected to contribute to species diversification, increase aquaculture production, and enhance export performance.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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
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