Brazil remains the leading market in February
Brazil continued to be the largest importer, with USD 4 million, accounting for nearly 50% of Vietnam’s total tilapia export value for the month. Demand in this market remained strong, particularly for frozen tilapia fillets serving domestic consumption.
In February, tilapia exports to the United States reached USD 852,000, making up 10% of total exports. Despite a 49% decline year-on-year, the U.S. remained an important market, especially for processed tilapia products.
Exports to Russia ranked third with USD 911,000, accounting for 11% of total export value and rising 114% year-on-year. Saudi Arabia followed in fourth place with USD 833,000, representing nearly 10% of total exports.
Several markets post exceptional growth in the first two months of 2026
The Dominican Republic stood out, with total imports reaching USD 940,000, up 635% compared to the same period last year, emerging as a promising destination for Vietnamese tilapia in the Caribbean region. In Malaysia, exports totaled USD 374,000, up 405% year-on-year, reflecting rising demand in Southeast Asia, particularly for frozen fillet products.The Netherlands also recorded strong growth, reaching USD 274,000, up over 220% year-on-year, and is considered a key gateway for deeper penetration into the European market. Notably, exports to the UAE reached USD 119,000, surging significantly compared to the previous year, highlighting strong potential in the Middle East market.
Broad-based growth across regional markets
By region, Vietnam’s tilapia exports in the first two months of 2026 expanded across most markets. The Middle East reached USD 2 million, skyrocketing 2,356% year-on-year, making it one of the fastest-growing regions. The EU recorded USD 1.2 million, up 63%, reflecting demand for alternatives to traditional whitefish. Meanwhile, CPTPP markets reached USD 1 million, up 59%, and ASEAN totaled USD 385,000, up 395% year-on-year.
Outlook shaped by global trade dynamics
In the first two months of the year, global seafood trade was influenced by U.S. tariff policies and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. For tilapia specifically, potential U.S. tariff reductions on certain seafood products may allow Brazilian and Chinese tilapia to regain market share in the near term. At the same time, both countries are actively expanding exports to the EU, where demand for whitefish products is expected to remain strong.
In this context, Vietnamese tilapia currently has limited competitive advantages in the EU market. In the U.S., high inventory levels from previous months may slow import demand in the short term. On the other hand, several Middle Eastern markets are showing positive growth signals for Vietnamese tilapia. However, elevated logistics costs and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties in the region could affect the sustainability and expansion of exports to these markets in the long run.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(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.
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