In just the first eight months of 2025, Vietnamese tilapia exports have surpassed the total export value recorded over the past five years.
According to data from Vietnam Customs, in the first eight months of 2025, tilapia exports reached over $63 million. They went up 174% compared to the same period in 2024. This figure exceeds Vietnam’s total tilapia export value for any single year in the past five years, since 2020.
Vietnamese tilapia exports
The United States is the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia expports. They accounted for 62% of Vietnam’s total tilapia export value to all markets.
According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), the U.S. is the world’s largest consumer of tilapia. Meanwhile, China is the largest supplier to both the U.S. and the global market. As of the end of July 2025, tilapia was the most popular white-fleshed fish in the U.S., surpassing cod and catfish. Frozen tilapia fillets (HS code 030461) are the most consumed tilapia product among American consumers.
Vietnam is currently the second-largest supplier of HS code 030461 products to the U.S., behind only China. This indicates that the demand for and potential of tilapia products remain significant.
According to VASEP, it is difficult for Vietnam to directly compete with major players such as China, Indonesia, Egypt, and Brazil in becoming a leading global supplier of tilapia. However, at present, aside from pangasius, which shares many similarities with tilapia, many Vietnamese enterprises have begun farming and producing tilapia for export.
Vietnamese source: https://thuehaiquan.tapchikinhtetaichinh.vn/xuat-khau-ca-ro-phi-8-thang-vuot-5-nam-199643.html