Vietnam tilapia industry: Capturing opportunities, developing strongly
In the first nine months of 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia export turnover reached $57.3 million, a surge of 332% compared to the same period in 2024 ($13.26 million). August alone recorded the highest growth, reaching nearly $10 million - reflecting the agility and responsiveness of Vietnamese enterprises amid significant market volatility. Vietnamese tilapia products have now penetrated in numerous markets, with the United States being the key market, accounting for the largest share of total export value.
However, entering the fourth quarter, growth momentum is expected to moderate due to temporarily high inventories in the U.S following strong imports in Q2 and Q3. This indicates that Vietnam needs to shift from exploiting short-term opportunities to pursuing a long-term strategic pathway - focusing on improving product quality, diversifying markets and building a sustainable Vietnamese tilapia brand.
China and Brazil Lose Ground as High Tariffs Bite
China – the world’s largest tilapia producer (~1.6 million tons/year) – is currently subject a 55% tariff on exports to the United States. The result has been severe: orders have plummeted, numerous contracts have been postponed or cancelled outright. While tilapia prices have edged up slightly, rising production costs are pushing companies into losses, and inventories have reached record levels. Brazil, once expected to replace China as a key supplier, has also faced export disruptions as the U.S. imposed a 50% tariff beginning in August, forcing companies to raise prices and lose competitiveness.
Both countries have pivoted back to their domestic markets to clear stocks, but with limited success. Lower retail prices cannot offset high production costs, and small to medium-sized enterprises — which primarily serve domestic consumers — face intense price competition. Overall, the tilapia industries in China and Brazil are confronting a dual challenge: slowing exports, falling prices, and deteriorating market sentiment.
Turning a short-term windfall into a long-term strategy
The experience of China and Brazil offers a stark lesson: over-reliance on a single market or a single product form leaves any aquaculture sector extremely vulnerable to policy shocks. When U.S. tariffs rose, both nations struggled to redirect shipments or sustain export volumes, resulting in significant loss of market share.
For Vietnam, this is the decisive moment to convert today’s temporary advantage into durable competitive strength. The tilapia sector should proactively diversify export markets — expanding into Europe, the Middle East, and South America — while developing more value-added products such as breaded tilapia, ready-to-cook items, and convenience-packaged portions. Parallel investments in broodstock improvement, farming technology, and advanced processing will boost productivity, reduce costs, and help meet global sustainability standards.
With Rabobank forecasting continued growth in global tilapia supply and consumers increasingly favoring environmentally responsible seafood, Vietnam has a clear opportunity to build a distinct national brand. The goal is no longer just to fill a temporary supply gap — it is to establish Vietnamese tilapia as a strategic, sustainable, high-value supplier for the long term.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
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
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