Brazil — the key market, accounting for more than half of total exports
Brazil continued to be Vietnam’s largest tilapia import market with an overwhelming share. In April 2026, exports to Brazil reached USD 6 million, accounting for 61% of total export turnover. Cumulative exports to this market in the first four months reached USD 26 million, representing 54% of the industry’s total exports, making Brazil the largest market in Vietnam’s tilapia export structure. However, Vietnamese tilapia exporters still need to remain cautious regarding technical and regulatory barriers imposed by different Brazilian states, as well as increasing competition from Brazil’s domestic tilapia industry.
The U.S. — second-largest market but facing significant pressure
The United States ranked second among export markets, but recorded less favorable performance in April. Export turnover in April reached only USD 2 million, down sharply by 42% year-on-year, mainly due to the impact of tariff policies and intense price competition in this market. Cumulative exports through April 2026 reached USD 10 million, up slightly by 3% compared to the same period last year, indicating that earlier months of the year still partially offset the sharp decline seen in April.
Potential markets continue strong growth momentum
Saudi Arabia recorded the most impressive growth rate among the top five markets. In April 2026, exports to this market reached USD 400 thousand, up 33% year-on-year.
The Dominican Republic also maintained positive growth momentum. Export turnover in April 2026 reached USD 300 thousand, up 23% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first four months reached USD 2 million, up 204%, showing that beyond Brazil, other Latin American markets are gradually expanding consumption of Vietnamese tilapia, creating a foundation for broader market diversification within the region.
Belgium emerged as the most notable EU market during the month, with April exports reaching USD 300 thousand, up 102% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of 2026 alone, exports to Belgium reached USD 1 million, up 30%. Total exports to the EU during the same period reached USD 2 million, up 23%, indicating that demand in Europe is showing positive signs and gradually expanding.
The export performance of Vietnamese tilapia in the first four months of 2026 reflects remarkable growth, with total export value rising by 151%. However, the heavy concentration on Brazil represents a structural risk that requires attention, especially as the country is adjusting policies related to tilapia imports. The sharp decline in exports to the U.S. in April also highlights the need for close monitoring in the coming months. On the positive side, strong growth in Saudi Arabia and the Dominican Republic signals promising opportunities for market diversification throughout the rest of 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Hai Phong's aquaculture sector is accelerating the adoption of high technologies in aquaculture to adapt to climate change, with red tilapia and tilapia identified as the key cultured species for priority development.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly US$1.1 billion in June 2026, up 21.0% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first half of 2026 totaled nearly US$5.8 billion, representing a 12.8% increase compared with the same period last year. Exports to China and Hong Kong continued to accelerate, while shipments to the United States rebounded strongly in June. In contrast, exports to the EU, Japan, and the Middle East remained sluggish or recorded slight declines.
(vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is playing an increasingly important role in Vietnam’s aquaculture sector, driven not only by growing market opportunities but also by its ability to meet increasingly stringent requirements on quality, food safety, and traceability. In practice, tilapia farming in Vietnam is not a spontaneous or loosely regulated activity; rather, it operates under a comprehensive legal and technical framework covering the entire value chain—from hatcheries and farming to processing and exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 16, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province announced that the locality has established a farming area code for nearly 30,400 hectares of mud crab aquaculture and granted export facility codes to five enterprises eligible to export mud crab officially to markets such as China, Cambodia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The United States remains one of the largest export markets for Vietnamese pangasius. In the first four months of 2026, pangasius exports to the US reached USD 106 million, up 4% compared to the same period in 2025. In April 2026 alone, export value totaled USD 38 million, marking a 20% year-on-year increase and the first positive growth recorded after an extended period of decline.
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