Diverging Import Trends Across Markets
The United States remained Vietnam’s largest import market for tilapia fillets in 2025. Export turnover to the U.S. reached USD 40 million, up 499% compared to 2024. This extraordinary growth reflects strong demand from the U.S. market amid supply constraints from competing producers such as the U.S. and China, which have faced challenges related to tariffs and rising production costs.
Notably, Brazil emerged as the fastest-growing market among Vietnam’s top tilapia fillet importers. In 2025, exports of tilapia fillets to Brazil reached USD 11 million, soaring by 7,552% compared to the previous year. This breakthrough underscores the significant potential of the South American market for Vietnam’s frozen tilapia fillets, particularly in segments serving domestic consumption and food processing industries.
In contrast to the upward trend in the U.S. and Brazil, exports to Russia and Mexico declined by 29% and 38%, respectively, in 2025. This reflects greater caution among importers in these markets amid economic fluctuations, higher logistics costs, and competition from domestic and regional suppliers.
In Asia, Taiwan and Japan maintained relatively stable imports. Exports to Taiwan reached USD 1.5 million, up 123%, while exports to Japan totaled USD 312,000, up slightly by 2% compared to 2024. In Europe, Italy recorded a 54% increase, with export value reaching over USD 601,000, indicating steady demand for tilapia fillets in this market.
Exports to Saudi Arabia and Puerto Rico in 2025 either recorded new export value or strong growth compared to the previous year, reflecting the expansion of Vietnam’s tilapia fillet exports into the Middle East and other niche markets. Meanwhile, although exports to Qatar declined slightly by 11%, the country remained among the top ten largest import markets.
Outlook for 2026
With strong growth momentum in 2025, particularly in the U.S. and Brazil, tilapia fillets are emerging as a promising export product alongside pangasius. Going forward, market diversification, improved processing quality, and compliance with safety and sustainability standards will be key factors enabling Vietnam’s tilapia sector to sustain growth and expand its international market share.
Alongside opportunities for market expansion, competition in the EU market is expected to intensify in the coming year, especially from Brazil. Brazil’s tilapia export industry is accelerating its strategy to penetrate the EU market in order to offset challenges and barriers in the U.S. market. With advantages in stable product quality, large-scale farming, and the ability to meet increasingly stringent EU technical, food safety, and traceability requirements, Brazilian tilapia is considered a direct competitor to Vietnamese tilapia in the region.
This situation requires Vietnamese enterprises to further enhance processing quality, strengthen supply chain control, and comply with sustainability standards in order to maintain and expand market share in the EU and other highly regulated markets in the years ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
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