Vietnamese tilapia expands as Brazil drives export growth

Brazil is the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in the first seven months of 2026, exports to Brazil reached US$40 million, accounting for about half of total tilapia export value. In July alone, exports to the market were worth around US$5 million.

Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the US reached US$18 million during the period, down 42%, while shipments to Saudi Arabia totaled around US$5 million, up 24%.

The sharp differences between markets show that demand for Vietnamese tilapia is expanding, but market conditions and competitive pressures vary considerably from one destination to another.

Meanwhile, Japan is emerging as another promising market for Vietnamese tilapia. Exports to Japan reached around US$1.6 million in the first seven months, up 61% year on year, with July shipments increasing 175%.

More importantly, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have begun entering the Japanese market for sushi and sashimi, opening a higher-value segment with stricter requirements for raw materials, farming practices, processing and food safety. VASEP has described this development as a new avenue for value-added tilapia products. 

Despite the market opportunities, the sector still faces challenges in production scale, costs and processing capacity. VASEP reported Vietnam’s relatively small share of global tilapia exports leaves significant room for expansion, while changes in international trade are creating opportunities for alternative suppliers. 

However, taking advantage of these openings will require more systematic production areas, lower farming costs and greater investment in processing.

The Mekong Delta has strong potential for tilapia farming, while closer links between farming, processing and export businesses could help create a more stable supply base.

Maintaining fast-growing markets such as Brazil and developing newer destinations such as Japan could also help reduce dependence on any single market.

Five-month tilapia exports double even as risks rise in key markets

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s tilapia exports more than doubled during the five-month period of 2026 to US$62 million, up 101% year-on-year, though weakening sales in the US and rising protectionist risks in Brazil are creating fresh challenges for the sector.