(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
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.