Tilapia exports saw triple-digit growth.

With very strong growth in export value over the past year, Vietnam is becoming a bright spot in the global tilapia market.

Tilapia is not yet a major export item for the fisheries industry, but it has seen very strong growth projected for 2025.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP), in the first 11 months of 2025, Vietnam’s total tilapia export turnover reached nearly 70 million USD, an increase of 198% compared to the same period in 2024. In November alone, tilapia export turnover exceeded 7 million USD.

With such remarkable growth, Vietnam has emerged as a new bright spot on the global tilapia map, effectively leveraging market fluctuations to expand production and exports.

Vietnamese tilapia is now exported to many markets, with the US being a key market, accounting for a large proportion of total export value.

In particular, in addition to traditional markets, Vietnamese businesses are boosting tilapia exports to many other markets, including Brazil – a major producer and exporter of tilapia. Exports to Brazil are a positive sign, reflecting the increasingly improved competitiveness of Vietnamese tilapia in the context of ongoing restructuring in the global market.

VASEP predicts that in 2026, the global tilapia market is expected to continue to be clearly differentiated. Brazil is projected to boost tilapia exports to the EU market to take advantage of its ability to meet the region’s technical standards, food safety, and sustainability certifications.

With the tariff reduced from 55% to 45%, Chinese tilapia will become more competitive in the US market (which accounts for 35% of China’s tilapia exports) in 2026.

For Vietnamese tilapia, the new global market landscape demands a more proactive and long-term strategy. In particular, diversifying export markets to Europe, the Middle East, and South America is necessary to reduce dependence on a few single markets.

At the same time, seafood businesses need to develop value-added products such as breaded tilapia, processed or conveniently packaged tilapia to help increase export value.