China dominates the industry but faces growing pressure to diversify markets
China remains the dominant force in the global tilapia industry. The country’s total tilapia supply reached approximately 2.1 million metric tons in 2025. Around 60% of production was exported, equivalent to about 1.1 million metric tons, and exports are expected to increase to 1.15 million metric tons in 2026.
In 2025, Chinese tilapia exports to the United States declined due to reciprocal tariffs and additional duties imposed on Chinese products. This created a market gap that Vietnam successfully leveraged to expand its presence in the US market. Although lower tariff rates in 2026 have facilitated the return of Chinese tilapia to the US, China is gradually shifting away from dependence on a single market toward a broader diversification strategy. Chinese tilapia exporters are actively expanding sales within the RCEP bloc while also viewing the European Union as a promising growth destination.
Brazil: Vietnam’s largest customer and a potential competitor
Brazil is the largest tilapia producer in the Americas, with production reaching approximately 707,500 metric tons in 2025, up nearly 7% from the previous year. While Brazil is currently Vietnam’s largest tilapia export market, accounting for more than 50% of total export value, it is also expanding its domestic production capacity.
The clearest sign of protectionism is Bill 6331/25, which has been approved by the Agriculture Committee of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies. The bill proposes banning tilapia imports to protect domestic producers. It is currently under review by additional committees before being submitted for a full congressional vote.
Egypt focuses on Middle Eastern export markets
Egypt is one of the world’s three largest tilapia producers, with output reaching 1.7 million metric tons in 2024, accounting for 99% of total production in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
According to the Egyptian Food Export Council (FEC), Egypt exported 17,000 metric tons of fresh and chilled tilapia in 2024, valued at USD 9.4 million. The country ranked second globally in this product segment, holding a 20% share of the world market.
The United Arab Emirates is Egypt’s largest export destination, accounting for 61% of export value, followed by Kuwait, Qatar, Tunisia, and Libya. This indicates that Egypt is primarily focused on the Middle East and North Africa and does not directly compete with Vietnam in its traditional export markets. However, if Vietnam seeks to expand its presence in the Middle East, Egypt will be a competitor to watch closely.
As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to grow, competition in the international tilapia market is expected to intensify. Major producers are simultaneously expanding production capacity and strengthening their positions in key markets, creating both challenges and opportunities for Vietnam’s rapidly developing tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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