Kevin Fitzsimmons, professor of environmental science at the University of Arizona, told the crowd at the World Tilapia Conference last month the estimated value of tilapia product forms imported to the United States, the world's most valuable tilapia market, will exceed $1 billion by the end of this year.
Combining the $986.1 million in tilapia imports to the United States in 2012, with the estimated $84 million in US-produced farmed tilapia which was sold that year, that mark has essentially already broken, Fitzsimmons said.
In his presentation, Fitzsimmons pointed to several reasons why the consumption of the whitefish has grown, not only in the United States, but throughout the world.
According to Fitzsimmons, the increase of tilapia farming in Mekong, Vietnam; government support and private sector investment in Malaysia; the commercialization of sub-Saharan Africa and the availability of water, labor, land and feed in Brazil have all led to increased production.
Similar to Malaysia, Bangladesh farmers, with the support from their government and private sector investments, are expected to increase production from roughly 100,000 metric tons in 2011, by nearly 20,000 metric tons this year.
Mike Picchietti, president of Americas Tilapia Alliance, told IntraFish the numbers shouldn’t be surprising as the popularity of the fish continues to grow, especially in the United States.
“In general aquaculture is shrinking in this country but tilapia farming is growing exponentially,” he said. “I think tilapia is going to continue to grow everywhere but it’ll depend on the country’s natural resources.”
After announcing the change from the American Tilapia Association to the Americas Tilapia Alliance (ATA) last month, in order to expand the group's focus and international influence, Picchietti said the use of the fish could grow worldwide if the technology to process it is developed.
In the US the cost to produce the fish is double, and three to five times as much to process it than tropical developing countries, he said. Automation has also not worked yet because of the small size of tilapia needs human work.
Marketing live tilapia could also increase the demand for the fish in the region, Picchietti added.
“I could see all the grocery stores and restaurants having live tanks with tilapia in them,” he said. “That’s one of the main goals of the new ATA is to see if we can expand the market and develop trade in the central and south American countries.”
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
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