(VAN) Tilapia exports to the United States posted exceptionally strong growth in 2025, making the U.S. the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia.
Exports of Vietnamese tilapia to the U.S. recorded impressive gains in 2025. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), export turnover to the U.S. exceeded USD 53 million in 2025, up 173% year on year from 2024.
With this performance, the U.S. emerged as the primary growth driver and the largest import market for Vietnamese tilapia, accounting for 54% of the country’s total tilapia export value in 2025.
Tilapia exports to the U.S. posted triple-digit growth in 2025. Photo: Son Trang.
The triple-digit growth in exports over the past year was driven largely by major shifts in global supply. China – the world’s largest producer and exporter of tilapia, continues to face high tariffs of up to 55%, significantly eroding the competitiveness of Chinese tilapia in the U.S. market.
Another leading tilapia exporter, Brazil, was also hit with a steep 50% tariff starting in August 2025, forcing Brazilian exporters to adjust their export strategies.
Against this backdrop, Vietnamese companies moved quickly to seize the opportunity, ramping up investment in tilapia farming and processing, particularly frozen fillet products tailored to U.S. market demand.
Advantages in production costs, stable supply, and the ability to flexibly meet technical requirements enabled Vietnamese tilapia to expand its market share in the U.S. in 2025.
In terms of product structure, export growth to the U.S. in 2025 was driven primarily by tilapia fillets. Export value for this product group reached USD 40 million, surging 499% compared with 2024.
At this level, tilapia fillets became the largest contributing segment to total tilapia export turnover to the U.S. The strong growth of tilapia fillets reflects consumption trends in the U.S., where convenient, easy-to-prepare products with consistent quality remain in high demand.
Meanwhile, exports of fresh and frozen whole fish maintained modest growth, with turnover exceeding USD 13 million, up 4% year on year, continuing to serve as a foundational segment in the overall export mix.
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