Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 62 million in the first five months of 2026. Accordingly, they went up 101% compared with the same period last year. Despite the strong export growth, the outlook for the Vietnam’s tilapia industry continues to face significant challenges.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in May 2026. They reached USD 14 million, up 18% compared with the same month last year. In the first five months of 2026, export turnover totaled USD 62 million. This represented a remarkable 101% increase year-on-year and highlighted the industry’s strong recovery in international markets.
Brazil remained the largest export market for Vietnamese tilapia export companies. Exports to the country reached USD 8 million in May 2026, while cumulative exports during the first five months of the year totaled USD 34 million. This accounted for more than half of Vietnam’s total tilapia export value. This performance underscores Brazil’s pivotal role in driving the sector’s overall growth.
Meanwhile, the United States remained the second-largest market but continued to experience declining imports. Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the U.S. totaled USD 4 million in May 2026, down 53% year-on-year. During the first five months of the year, export value reached USD 14 million, a decline of 23% from the same period in 2025. The downturn reflects weaker demand in the U.S. seafood market. It is also driven by intensifying competition from other supplying countries.
Vietnam’s tilapia exports
In the Middle East, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Saudi Arabia presented a mixed picture. Export value fell 74% year-on-year to USD 332,000 in May. However, cumulative exports during the first five months of 2026 reached USD 3 million, up 87% from the same period last year. This suggests that import demand in the Saudi market continues to expand over the medium term despite short-term fluctuations.
The Dominican Republic also maintained robust growth. Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the market reached USD 393,000 in May, up 37% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 2 million. This marked a sharp 147% increase and placed the country among the fastest-growing markets for Vietnamese tilapia.
Canada and Australia recorded the strongest growth rates during the first five months of 2026. Tilapia exports to Canada surged 236% compared with the same period last year, while exports to Australia increased by 123%.
According to VASEP, despite the sector’s impressive export performance, Vietnam’s tilapia enterprises continue to face significant challenges. With exports to the U.S. remaining on a downward trend and policy risks increasing in Brazil, Vietnamese exporters need to diversify their export destinations.
They also need to further develop promising markets such as Canada, Australia, the Middle East, and the European Union. In addition, greater investment in value-added products and stronger competitiveness will be essential for sustaining the industry’s growth momentum in the coming years.
Vietnamese source: https://doanhnghieptiepthi.vn/xuat-khau-ca-ro-phi-tang-truong-tich-cuc-16126062607333499.htm
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