In the first half of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached US$69 million, up 67% from the same period in 2025. June exports alone totaled US$7 million, down 32%, indicating some short-term moderation in growth. Nevertheless, the cumulative result clearly reflects the industry’s potential for further expansion.
Looking toward 2030, the global tilapia market is expected to continue offering opportunities for Vietnam. The United States remains one of the major consumer markets, although demand and trade policies may fluctuate. At the same time, the trend toward diversifying supply sources beyond China continues to create room for new suppliers. Demand for frozen fillets and value-added products is also expected to grow, aligning well with Vietnam’s processing capabilities.
Vietnam’s opportunity lies not only in increasing production but also in building a well-controlled and traceable supply chain. Expanding concentrated farming areas, applying standards such as VietGAP and GlobalG.A.P., and strengthening controls over fingerling quality, feed and farming practices will provide the foundation for greater production stability and compliance with increasingly stringent import-market requirements.
Another important direction is to increase the share of value-added products. Rather than competing primarily on price with major suppliers such as China, Vietnamese tilapia can differentiate itself through high-quality fillets, portion-sized products, breaded products, ready-to-cook items and products tailored to the specific requirements of individual markets.
In terms of markets, besides the United States, Vietnam has opportunities to expand exports to the EU, Middle East, Canada and Australia. At the same time, with its geographic advantages and processing capacity, Vietnam could gradually become an important tilapia supplier in Asia rather than relying on a limited number of traditional markets.
From now to 2030, Vietnam’s tilapia industry could target an export value of approximately US$250–350 million. Under a breakthrough scenario, if a large-scale, integrated supply chain is established—from fingerling production and farming areas to processing and market development—export turnover could potentially reach US$500 million.
To achieve this target, the industry needs to shift from fragmented production toward large-scale, certified and traceable production, while accelerating value-added processing and diversifying export markets. Ultimately, the goal is not simply to increase export turnover, but to establish tilapia as a distinctive, high-value Vietnamese export commodity with a strong position in the global market by 2030.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of the end of August 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States reached $21 million, representing a steep 48% year-over-year decline and accounting for 23% of the country's total tilapia export turnover. Frozen fillets accounted for 78% with the remainder consisting of whole frozen tilapia and frozen cuts.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a volatile first half of the year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Brazil registered robust growth in July and August 2026. In August alone, export turnover reached $19 million, surging 73% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively for the first eight months, total export value reached $124 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year increase.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Besides modifying their boats, many fishermen in Dak Lak province are making efforts to venture out to sea to harvest seafood during the rough sea season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the Responsible Seafood Summit and TCRS Shrimp Summit 2026, organized by the GSA (Global Seafood Alliance) in Bangkok, Thailand, the conversation about the future of the shrimp industry began with one of its most important foundations: seedstock quality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Lithuania surpassed $14 million, up 8% year on year. While the increase remains modest, it is notable given the continued pressure on Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU as a whole. More importantly, export turnover to Lithuania has shown a clearer recovery in recent months, making the market a destination worth monitoring for Vietnamese businesses in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports exceeded $527 million in the first eight months of 2026, marking a 15% year-on-year increase. This growth is particularly notable given the strong baseline established in 2025, when export turnover for the same period reached $458 million, a 13% rise from 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius is gaining traction in Japan, where competitive prices and reliable supplies have helped the fish enter professional distribution channels and a major sushi chain.
(vasep.com.vn) A circular economy does not create a “new type of shrimp” or a new certification. Its value lies in helping the shrimp value chain use resources more efficiently, stabilize production, generate additional value from by-products and build the data and evidence needed to meet increasingly stringent market requirements. This was the perspective shared by VASEP at the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Forum on Promoting a Circular Economy in the Shrimp Industry in the Mekong Delta, held in Can Tho on September 21.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to CPTPP markets reached $264 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year and accounting for 17% of the nation’s total pangasius export turnover. In August alone, export value reached $34 million, inching up 3%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Golden pompano is being selected as a high-value species for the development of high-tech marine aquaculture in Lam Dong Province. In 2026, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center launched a golden pompano farming model using circular HDPE cages in Lien Huong Commune, opening opportunities to apply technology to marine farming at a scale suited to local coastal conditions.
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