Tilapia continues to expand in the U.S. market
The growth momentum has continued into early 2026. In February alone, tilapia exports to the U.S. reached USD 852,000, accounting for 10% of total export value for this product. Cumulatively, in the first two months of the year, exports reached around USD 4 million, up 31% year-on-year. Although there was a slight slowdown in February, this is mainly attributed to seasonality, as importers had significantly increased inventories in Q4 2025 to meet year-end demand.
In the U.S. market, frozen tilapia fillets remain the key product. In February, imports of this item exceeded USD 30 million, ranking second among whitefish products, indicating that demand remains high and stable.
Tariff policies affect U.S. importers’ sentiment
However, the positive outlook comes with notable challenges. New U.S. tariff policies are creating caution among importers. The imposition of a 10% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974—with the possibility of increasing to 15% in the near future—along with ongoing trade investigations involving several major partners, including Vietnam, is making the export environment more unpredictable.
Competition from Chinese and Brazilian tilapia
Despite the volatility and complexity of the U.S. market, major exporters such as China and Brazil, while seeking to expand into alternative markets, are unlikely to offset the scale and value of the U.S. market in the short term—especially as new markets require time to develop demand for tilapia products.
In 2025, leading exporters like China and Brazil were significantly affected by U.S. tariff policies, reducing their competitiveness in this market. However, entering 2026, as tariffs are adjusted downward to around 10%, companies from these countries are expected to step up their return to the U.S. market. With advantages in production scale and cost efficiency, China and Brazil could quickly expand their market share, creating direct pressure on Vietnamese tilapia.
Geopolitical factors and production scale squeeze margins
In addition, geopolitical instability—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—has driven up fuel prices, leading to higher transportation costs and narrowing profit margins for exporters. Furthermore, Vietnam’s tilapia production scale remains relatively modest, with limitations in technology and seed supply compared to major competitors, reducing competitiveness in both pricing and supply capacity.
In this context, to fully capitalize on opportunities in the U.S. market, Vietnam’s tilapia industry needs to strengthen production capacity, optimize costs, and proactively adapt to fluctuations in global trade policies.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
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