Brazil continues to grow while the U.S. shows no signs of recovery
Brazil remained Vietnam’s largest tilapia import market. In May 2026, exports to Brazil reached USD 8 million. During the first five months of the year, export value totaled USD 34 million, accounting for more than half of Vietnam’s total tilapia export turnover. This performance reaffirms Brazil’s pivotal role in driving the industry’s overall growth.
Meanwhile, the United States, Vietnam’s second-largest market, continued to experience a downward trend. Tilapia exports to the U.S. reached USD 4 million in May 2026, down 53% year-on-year. For the first five months, exports totaled USD 14 million, a decline of 23% compared with the same period last year. This decrease reflects ongoing challenges in the U.S. seafood market as well as intensifying competition from other suppliers.
Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, and emerging markets gain momentum
In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia showed mixed performance. Export value in May reached USD 332,000, down 74% year-on-year. However, cumulative exports during the first five months still amounted to USD 3 million, up 87%, indicating that import demand in this market continues to expand over the medium term.
The Dominican Republic maintained a strong growth trajectory. Exports in May reached USD 393,000, up 37% compared with the same period last year. For the first five months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2 million, a significant increase of 147%, making it one of the fastest-growing markets for Vietnamese tilapia.
Canada and Australia recorded the most impressive growth rates among Vietnam’s tilapia export destinations during the first five months of 2026. Exports to Canada surged 236%, while shipments to Australia increased 123% year-on-year. Although export volumes remain relatively modest, these results demonstrate considerable potential for expanding Vietnam’s market share in developed markets beyond its traditional destinations.
Protectionist measures in Brazil pose challenges
Despite strong export growth, Vietnam’s tilapia industry still faces significant challenges. Brazil—the sector’s largest market—is increasingly implementing protectionist measures on imported products. Several states have either introduced or proposed higher ICMS taxes on imported tilapia, while the state of Pernambuco has enacted temporary restrictions on the commercialization of imported tilapia in various forms. At the same time, Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies is considering legislation that would ban tilapia imports in an effort to protect domestic producers.
As the U.S. market continues to weaken and policy risks in Brazil increase, Vietnamese tilapia exporters need to proactively diversify their markets and further develop opportunities in promising destinations such as Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and the European Union. In addition, investment in value-added products and enhanced competitiveness will be critical for sustaining the industry’s growth momentum in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As importing markets increasingly focus on biosecurity and traceability, Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework and disease management system for aquaculture, covering tilapia farming as well as other cultured species. This system is based on the Law on Animal Health, regulations on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases, the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Farmed Aquatic Species, and environmental monitoring and early warning programs for aquaculture areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
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