Product structure: Fillets as the primary growth driver
Regarding the product structure, the growth of Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the U.S in 2025 primarily concentrated in the tilapia fillet group. Export turnover of this product group to the U.S reached $40 million, surging 499% compared to 2024, becoming the largest contributing segment to the total tilapia export value to this market.
The strong expansion of tilapia fillets reflects consumption trends in the U.S, where convenient, easy-to-prepare and quality-stable products continue to be favored. Meanwhile, the fresh/frozen fish group maintained modest growth with turnover exceeding $13 million, up 4% year-on-year, playing a foundational segment in the export structure.
By contrast, exports of other processed tilapia products (HS16) and dried tilapia (HS0305) to the U.S recorded declines of 39% and 68%, respectively, compared to 2024. This indicates that in 2025, the U.S market focused more on frozen fillet products rather than deep-processed products or dried fish.
High tariffs on China and Brazil boost Vietnam’s presence in the U.S market
The growth of Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States has been closely linked to major fluctuations in global supply. China - the world’s largest producer and exporter of tilapia – continues to face high tariffs of up to 55%, significantly undermining the competitiveness of its tilapia in the U.S. market. Meanwhile, Brazil has also been subject to a high tariff rate of 50% since August 2025, forcing its enterprises to adjust their export strategies.
Against this backdrop, Vietnamese enterprises have swiftly seized the opportunity, ramping up investment in tilapia farming and processing, particularly frozen tilapia fillets that align with U.S market demand. Advantages in production costs, stable supply and the ability to flexibly meet technical requirements have helped Vietnamese tilapia increase its market share in the this market in 2025.
Outlook and development orientation
Although the U.S market continues to be assessed as a key destination in the short term, heavy reliance on a single market also poses potential risks in the face of trade policy changes. As Brazil increasingly redirects its exports toward the EU market to offset reduced access to the U.S market, Vietnam needs to continue improving product quality and meeting international certifications and sustainability standards if it wants the tilapia industry to develop sustainably.
At the same time, continued investment in broodstock improvement, farming technologies and value-added processing will be a critical foundation for Vietnam’s tilapia sector to both effectively capitalize on opportunities in the U.S market and gradually expand into demanding markets such as the EU, thereby sustaining growth momentum and strengthening its standing in the international market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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