(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.
Brazil remained Vietnam's largest export market for tilapia, with export value reaching USD 35 million during the first six months of 2026, representing an extraordinary 28,767% increase from the same period in 2025 and accounting for 50% of the industry's total export value. In June alone, exports to Brazil amounted to USD 1 million, up 871% year on year.
The United States ranked as the second-largest market, with exports totaling USD 17 million in the first half of 2026, down 35% compared with the same period last year. In June, tilapia exports to the U.S. reached USD 3 million, a decline of 61% year on year.
Beyond Brazil and the United States, several smaller markets continued to post encouraging growth during the first half of 2026. Exports to Saudi Arabia reached USD 4 million, up 69%, while shipments to the Dominican Republic totaled USD 2.3 million, an increase of 103% over the same period in 2025. Exports to Belgium reached USD 1.5 million, up 16% year on year.
Export markets face mounting challenges
Although export performance in the first half of 2026 remained robust, the 32% decline in June suggests that the rapid growth momentum of Vietnam's tilapia exports is beginning to slow.
In the U.S. market, import demand continues to be affected by inventories accumulated during previous months. At the same time, Vietnamese tilapia faces increasing competition from major suppliers such as China and Indonesia, putting significant pressure on both prices and market share.
Brazil remains Vietnam's largest export destination but also presents growing uncertainties. In addition to technical control measures on imported seafood, several Brazilian states have introduced tax policies targeting tilapia products. Meanwhile, a bill proposing a ban on tilapia imports is still under consideration by the Brazilian Congress, prompting many importers to adopt a more cautious approach to purchasing.
In response to these trade barriers, Vietnam has proactively implemented both technical and diplomatic measures to safeguard its tilapia industry. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in coordination with relevant ministries, the Vietnamese Embassy, and the Vietnam Trade Office in Brazil, has engaged with Brazilian authorities to clarify the scientific basis of the country's import control measures while reaffirming Vietnam's capabilities in disease control, traceability, and food safety assurance. Vietnam is also finalizing its risk assessment dossier for the Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV), strengthening technical dialogue, and promoting broader agricultural and fisheries cooperation between the two countries. At the same time, Vietnamese exporters are encouraged to enhance product quality, diversify product offerings, and expand into new markets to reduce reliance on Brazil.
Looking ahead, Vietnam's tilapia exports are likely to face continued challenges in the second half of 2026. Exporters will need to closely monitor policy developments in key markets—particularly Brazil and the United States—while accelerating market diversification to mitigate risks, sustain growth, and enhance resilience amid an increasingly volatile global trading environment.