Vietnam eyes US tilapia export boost as global supply falls

Vietnam is poised to expand tilapia exports to the US, as global supply from major producers is expected to decline, industry experts have said.

Chinese shipments are forecast to plummet as a result of US anti-dumping tariffs of up to 245%. Other top suppliers, such as Colombia and Honduras, are also seeing production fall due to climate change and disease outbreaks, creating space for Vietnamese exporters.

Nguyen Van Tien, Global Aqua R&D Team Leader at De Heus Vietnam, noted a recent surge in US orders for Vietnamese tilapia, indicating a shift in sourcing away from China.

"Declining Chinese supply and high tariffs have opened up opportunities for Vietnam and other exporters," Nguyen Hoai Nam, Secretary General of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said at a seminar on tilapia export strategies for 2025 held last week.

He emphasized that the US remains the world’s largest importer of tilapia, purchasing over 178,000 tons worth US$802 million in 2024. Although Vietnam is not yet a major supplier to the US, it is seen as a potential exporter of this freshwater species.

Statistics from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Surveillance under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment show that Vietnam's tilapia export revenues reached $14 million in the first quarter of 2025, rocketing 131% year-on-year. The US accounted for 46% of this value, followed by Russia with 13%, or about $1.8 million.

Tran Dinh Luan, General Director of the department, said Vietnam's tilapia farming has seen encouraging growth in recent years. In 2024, the country had an estimated output of 316,000 tons and an export value of $30.9 million.

Fragmented production hampers export growth

VASEP warned that Vietnam's fragmented tilapia production, with poor links between hatcheries, farms, processors, and distributors, trouble quality control and brand development, hindering international competitiveness.

In addition, limited adoption of aquaculture standards such as VietGAP leaves Vietnamese tilapia out of global quality and food safety requirements. Therefore, Vietnamese exporters need to invest in technology, quality management, and compliance with international trade regulations, especially US trade policy, including potential anti-dumping measures and technical trade barriers.

Vietnam aims to increase tilapia output to 400,000 tons by 2030, making it the second largest freshwater export species after pangasius, according to the Strategy for the Growth of Vietnam’s Fisheries to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

To achieve this goal, VASEP stressed the need for research and development of high-quality and disease-resistant tilapia strains suited to aquaculture conditions for diverse markets.

At the seminar, several exporters called for tilapia to be recognized as a major export product after shrimp and pangasius, supported by diversified export strategies from the government.