A species of fish that is easy to raise, highly nutritious, and sells well in the US and Brazil brings in hundreds of millions of dollars

The US, Brazil, and many other markets are currently increasing imports of Vietnamese tilapia, helping us earn over $99 million (approximately 2,500 billion VND) in 2025

According to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (Vasep), in 2025, Viet Nam's tilapia exports are expected to record impressive growth, with total turnover reaching over 99 million USD (compared to approximately 40 million USD in 2024), demonstrating the increasingly prominent role of this product in the structure of seafood exports.

Of that total, fish fillets and other fish meat products reached $61 million, accounting for 61% of the total export value, affirming their position as a key product group.

The US continues to be Viet Nam's largest import market for tilapia fillets in 2025, with a value of $40 million, a 499% increase compared to the previous year.

According to Vasep, the surge in growth reflects strong demand from the US market amidst difficulties in supplying tilapia from competing countries such as the US and China due to tariffs and rising production costs.

Notably, Brazil has emerged as the fastest-growing market among Viet Nam's tilapia fillet import markets, with a turnover of approximately $11 million, a significant increase of 7,552% compared to the previous year.

"This breakthrough demonstrates the great potential of the South American market for Vietnamese frozen tilapia fillet products, especially in the domestic consumption and food processing segments," Vasep commented.

In Asia, Taiwan and Japan maintained stable imports. Exports to Taiwan reached $1.5 million, up 123%, while exports to Japan reached $312,000, a slight increase of 2% compared to 2024.

In Europe, Italy recorded a 54% increase, with sales exceeding $601,000, indicating stable demand for tilapia fillets in this market.

Exports to Saudi Arabia and Puerto Rico in 2025 both recorded new values ​​or significant increases compared to the previous year, reflecting the expanding market trend of Vietnamese tilapia fillets in the Middle East and other niche markets.

In addition, although Qatar saw a slight decrease of 11%, it remains among the top 10 largest import markets.

Regarding the export prospects for tilapia in 2026, Vasep believes that with strong growth in 2025, especially in the US and Brazil, tilapia fillets are emerging as a potential export product alongside pangasius.

In the coming period, diversifying markets, improving processing quality, and meeting safety and sustainability standards will be key factors in helping Vietnamese tilapia maintain growth and expand its market share in the international market.

Besides opportunities to expand market share, the EU market is predicted to become more competitive next year, especially from Brazil.

Brazil's tilapia export industry is stepping up its strategy to penetrate the EU market in order to compensate for difficulties and barriers in the US market.

"With the advantages of stable product quality, large-scale farming, and the ability to meet the increasingly stringent technical, food safety, and traceability standards of the EU, Brazilian tilapia is considered a direct competitor to Vietnamese tilapia in this region."

"This places a demand on Vietnamese businesses to continue improving processing quality, controlling supply chains, and complying with sustainability standards in order to maintain and expand market share in the EU market and other markets with strict standards in the future," Vasep emphasized.

Source: Tuoi Tre