Vietnam's tilapia exports increased by 334% in January 2026, reaching $15 million.
The tilapia industry recorded record growth by taking advantage of market gaps as major competitors like China and Brazil faced tariff barriers in the US.
According to data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), Vietnam's tilapia export value in January 2026 reached approximately US$15 million, a sharp increase of 334% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a result of the shift in the global whitefish supply chain amidst difficulties in trade policies faced by major exporting countries.
Brazil and the US are leading the import demand.
In the market structure for January 2026, Brazil unexpectedly rose to the leading position, importing approximately $8 million worth of tilapia from Vietnam, accounting for 56% of the total export value of this product. Demand in the South American country is mainly focused on fillets and cut fish for home cooking.
The US market ranked second with a turnover of approximately $3 million, accounting for 21% of the total value. Although this figure decreased slightly compared to the previous month due to the cyclical nature of the holiday season in Q4 2025, experts believe it remains a key market for frozen tilapia fillet products.
Besides the two major markets, exports to other regions also recorded a surge in growth. Specifically, the Middle East reached $948,000 (up 1,239%), while the European Union (EU) market reached $764,000 (up 276%). Countries such as Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, and Japan are gradually becoming new potential markets.
Tariff pressures are restructuring global supply chains.
The breakthrough of Vietnamese tilapia is taking place against the backdrop of major competitors China and Brazil facing pressure from US tariffs. China, the world's largest tilapia producer, is gradually losing its advantage in the US market due to high import tariffs, forcing its businesses to return to domestic consumption or seek alternative markets.
Similarly, Brazil also faces tariff barriers as it attempts to increase its market share in the US. Local oversupply in these countries has caused domestic tilapia prices to plummet, impacting the raw material production chain. Conversely, Vietnam has successfully capitalized on this opportunity to expand its market share, with total export revenue for the whole year of 2025 reaching $99 million, a 141% increase compared to 2024.
Strategy for developing and increasing added value
In its fisheries development strategy until 2030, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment identifies tilapia as a potential aquaculture species, ranking after shrimp and pangasius. The agricultural sector is encouraging localities to expand farming areas towards industrial-scale production, applying high technology and achieving international certifications such as VietGAP and GlobalGAP.
To maintain growth momentum, businesses are encouraged to intensify deep processing, creating value-added products such as breaded fish or ready-to-eat processed foods. Although it cannot yet completely replace China in terms of scale and product range, Vietnamese tilapia has a great opportunity to become a key export industry if it meets the stringent sustainability standards of the international market.
