The US spent over $50 million to buy tilapia from Viet Nam

Amidst high tariffs imposed on both China and Brazil, Vietnamese businesses quickly seized the opportunity, boosting tilapia exports to the US market, aiming to generate over $50 million in revenue by 2025.

According to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (Vasep), 2025 will see a breakthrough in Viet Nam's tilapia exports, bringing in nearly $100 million (a 141% increase compared to the previous year), with the US market playing a major role.

Accordingly, the total export value of Vietnamese tilapia to the US in 2025 is expected to reach over $53 million, an increase of 173% compared to the same period last year, accounting for 54% of Viet Nam's total tilapia export value, making the US the largest import market for this product.

Exports of tilapia to the US are projected to grow strongly in 2025, reflecting both import demand and the ability of Vietnamese businesses to capitalize on market opportunities amidst a volatile global competitive environment.

In terms of product structure, the growth in tilapia exports to the US last year was mainly concentrated in the tilapia fillet segment, which generated $40 million, a 499% increase compared to 2024, becoming the largest contributing segment.

The strong growth in tilapia fillet sales reflects consumer trends in the US, where convenient, easy-to-prepare, and consistently high-quality products continue to be favored.

Meanwhile, the fresh and frozen fish group maintained slight growth with export value reaching over $13 million, a 4% increase compared to the previous year, playing a fundamental role in the export structure.

Conversely, exports of other processed tilapia products and dried fish to the US recorded a downward trend.

This suggests that in 2025, the US market will focus more on frozen fillet products, rather than deeply processed items or dried fish.

According to Vasep, the growth in Viet Nam's tilapia exports to the US is linked to significant fluctuations in global supply.

China, the world's largest producer and exporter of tilapia, continues to face high tariffs of up to 55%, severely diminishing the competitiveness of its tilapia in the US market.

In addition, Brazil will also face a high tariff of 50% from August 2025, forcing its businesses to adjust their export strategies.

"In that context, Vietnamese businesses quickly seized the opportunity, boosting investment in tilapia farming and processing, especially frozen fillet products that meet the needs of the US market."

"The advantages in production costs, stable supply, and the ability to flexibly meet technical requirements will help Vietnamese tilapia increase its market share in this market in 2025," Vasep predicted.

Looking ahead to 2026, Vasep forecasts that tilapia exports to the US will continue to have promising prospects, especially for tilapia fillets.

However, if Viet Nam wants its tilapia industry to develop sustainably, it needs to continue improving product quality, meeting international certifications and sustainability standards.

Simultaneously, investing in improved breeding, farming technology, and deep processing will be crucial for Viet Nam's tilapia industry to effectively capitalize on opportunities in the US market while gradually expanding into demanding markets such as the EU, thereby maintaining growth momentum and enhancing its position in the international market.

Source: The Youth Online