The imminent arrival of Vietnam's inaugural tilapia export shipment at a Brazilian port holds not only commercial significance but also serves as evidence of joint efforts to promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, especially as bilateral ties have been upgraded to a strategic partnership and Brazil's recognition of Vietnam as a market economy.
This was affirmed by Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi in an interview with TTXVN reporters in South America, on the occasion of the first 24-ton container of Vietnamese tilapia departing Ho Chi Minh City's port on November 6 to be exported to Brazil via JBS Group, Brazil's largest food corporation.
Ambassador Bui Van Nghi emphasized that this represents a concrete result of enterprise connections, market expansion and affirmation of the quality of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic products in the Brazilian and broader Latin American markets.
This is one of 32 containers, totaling 700 tons of tilapia - ordered by JBS, with products set to enter supermarket shelves, the Horeca distribution channel, and JBS’s showrooms in Brazil. The current container is expected to arrive at Santos Port on December 17.
JBS Group currently employs 280,000 personnel, operates 150 factories across many countries and leads the world in beef and chicken production; it is also investing $150 million in two beef processing plants in Vietnam.
According to Ambassador Bui Van Nghi, this event represents a new development in economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Brazil, materializing the mutual agricultural market opening agreement between the two countries that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Brazilian President Lula da Silva committed to during their high-level meeting on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro in July 2025.
Both sides agreed to continue opening agricultural markets to each other. Vietnam will open its market to Brazilian beef, while Brazil will open its market to Vietnamese tilapia, tra and basa fish.
Ambassador Bui Van Nghi also stated that the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil will continue to accompany businesses and localities of both countries, supporting promotion, connections and resolution of difficulties to enable more Vietnamese products to penetrate deeper and wider into the Brazilian and South American markets.
Meanwhile, Marcio Rodrigues, JBS Group's Executive Director in charge of market access, assessed that this event reflects the increasingly solid partnership between JBS and Vietnam, strengthened through specific activities such as investments in Vietnam, job creation and expanded imports of Vietnamese products.
Currently, the two countries are promoting negotiations toward signing a Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) bloc, in the context of Brazil serving as the rotating chair of the bloc in 2025, while enhancing connections between businesses, associations and relevant ministries and sectors to facilitate bilateral trade development in a direction of market diversification, balanced interests and sustainable development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
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