Tilapia exports jump 67% in H1, Brazil becomes top consumer

According to Vietnam Customs, Brazil was the top consumer with imports surging to US$35 million, up 28,767% year on year. Exports to this market reached US$1 million in June alone, an increase of 871% from the same month in 2025.

Shipments to the US totaled approximately US$17 million during the first half of the year, down 35%, while June exports fell 61% to around US$3 million.

Several smaller markets continued to post healthy growth. Exports to Saudi Arabia reached approximately US$4 million, up 69%; shipments to the Dominican Republic rose 103% to US$2.3 million; while exports to Belgium increased 16% to around US$1.5 million.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), although export growth stayed strong in the first half, the decline in June suggests that momentum is beginning to slow.

In the US market, demand continues to be weighed down by high inventories accumulated earlier in the year. Vietnamese exporters also face intense competition from major suppliers such as China and Indonesia, putting pressure on prices and market share.

Meanwhile, Brazil is a key growth market but also presents mounting risks. In addition to stricter technical inspections on imported seafood, several Brazilian states have introduced tariffs on tilapia, while a bill proposing a ban on tilapia imports is under consideration in the Brazilian Congress. The uncertainty has prompted many importers to adopt a more cautious approach.

In response, Vietnam has stepped up technical and diplomatic efforts to safeguard its tilapia exports. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has been working with relevant ministries, Vietnam's Embassy and Trade Office in Brazil to engage Brazilian authorities, clarify the scientific basis of import control measures, and reaffirm Vietnam's capacity in disease control, traceability and food safety management.

Vietnam is also completing risk assessment documentation related to the Tilapia Lake Virus (TiLV) while expanding technical dialogue and agricultural cooperation with Brazil.

At the industry level, VASEP believes improving product quality, diversifying export destinations and expanding the range of value-added processed products will be essential to reducing reliance on any single market and strengthening resilience against increasingly complex global trade conditions.

As international trade becomes more uncertain, the long-term growth of Vietnam's tilapia industry will depend not only on expanding export markets but also on its ability to adapt to stricter technical requirements and evolving trade policies in key importing countries.

Tilapia opens new growth prospects for Vietnam’s seafood sector

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s tilapia exports are recording strong growth amid fluctuations in the global seafood market, with the US leading the surge as shipments to the highly lucrative market posted triple-digit growth of 173% in 2025.