(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the EU reached more than USD 4 million, up 2% year on year. The EU accounted for 4% of total tilapia export value, ranking behind major markets such as Brazil, the United States, Saudi Arabia and the CPTPP bloc.
By quarter, exports to the EU reached nearly USD 2 million in Q1, up 29%; USD 1 million in Q2, down 21%; and held at USD 1 million in Q3, up 1%. Within Q3, export value in August rose by more than 200% year on year, while September reached USD 180,000, down 50%. Monthly export value fluctuated considerably, depending on the delivery schedule of individual orders.
Performance varied across member markets. Belgium was the largest market in the bloc, with nine-month exports of more than USD 2 million, up 39% and accounting for more than half of exports to the EU. In Q3 alone, exports to Belgium rose by more than 200%; in September, they increased by nearly 24% year on year.
Exports to Germany in the first nine months reached USD 560,000, down 29%, with all three quarters below the same period last year. In the Netherlands, export value rose 237% in Q1 but fell 71% in Q3, bringing the nine-month total down 7%. In September, exports to the remaining EU countries were low. Tilapia exports to the EU are therefore currently concentrated mainly in Belgium.
In terms of product structure, the HS 03 group (excluding frozen fillets), mainly frozen whole tilapia, accounted for 76% of export value to the EU. Frozen fillets under HS 0304 made up nearly 24%, while value-added products under HS 16 accounted for a negligible share. Frozen whole fish is currently Vietnam’s key product in this market.
The EU tilapia market relies mainly on imports. China is the largest supplier, accounting for the majority of import value for both whole fish and fillets. For frozen whole tilapia, Vietnam is the second-largest supplier, with an average price higher than that of Chinese tilapia. China is expanding exports to the EU, the Middle East and Africa, while also developing larger fish strains to produce thick fillets for the premium segment.
Indonesia positions its tilapia in Europe as a reasonably priced alternative to cod for supermarkets and foodservice, and has recorded no rejected import shipments. Indonesian tilapia fillets enter the EU at a significantly higher price than Vietnamese tilapia. Vietnamese tilapia fillets are currently priced slightly above Chinese products.
Vietnam’s tilapia industry can build on the foundation of the pangasius sector, including EU-standard processing plants and a relatively complete supply chain, to further develop fillets and value-added products. Alongside Belgium, expanding into other markets within the bloc, together with maintaining consistent quality and traceability, will help support tilapia exports to the EU in the coming period.