Tackling trade barriers on tilapia exports to Brazil

Responding to new policy developments from Brazil

On the morning of July 2, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment held a meeting chaired by Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung to assess the situation and implement technical solutions and response scenarios to new policy developments from the Brazilian market regarding Viet Nam's tilapia exports.

The meeting was attended by leaders of specialized agencies: the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance, the National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM), the Department of Animal Health and Production, the Viet Nam SPS Office, the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) and representatives of industry enterprises.

Reporting at the meeting, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Department of Fisheries and Surveillance, stated that the domestic tilapia production industry recorded continuous growth from 2015 to 2025. Harvest output in 2025 reached 420,000 tons, with an average growth of 8.4%/year.

The whole country reached a scale of about 420,000 hectares of specialized farming area, combined with 300,000 hectares of dual farming and 3 million cubic meters of commercial farming cages. Export turnover grew strongly, from 17 million USD in 2023 to 41 million USD in 2024 and hit 99.3 million USD in 2025.

On the export map, Brazil rapidly became a core partner, importing 26 million USD worth of goods in the first 4 months of 2026, accounting for 54% of Viet Nam's total tilapia export turnover. However, this country has continuously introduced strict technical barriers regarding TiLV virus control.

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock issued Regulation No. RIG.PJ.DP.AQUA.EX.AH.DEZ.25 (effective December 16, 2025) requiring imported shipments to have a TiLV-free certificate. On May 29, 2026, the Agriculture, Livestock, Supply and Rural Development Committee of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies passed Bill No. 6.331/2025 completely banning imported products. Quarantine agencies in Pernambuco and Santa Catarina states also issued decisions banning the circulation, distribution and transshipment of this item from Viet Nam.

Discussing diplomatic dialogue, Dr. Ngo Xuan Nam, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam SPS Office, announced the results of the technical meeting with the Brazilian delegation at the SPS Committee (WTO). The Brazilian federal side confirmed that the new Bill No. 6.331/2025 has only stopped at the passage stage in the Chamber of Deputies and has no legal effect yet. The counterpart affirmed that states do not have the authority to intervene in international trade regulations, the Brazilian market currently remains normally open, and their Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock does not agree with this bill.

The aforementioned policy-tightening move mainly stems from the trend of increasing measures to protect the host country's domestic seafood production. The Brazilian side also agreed to hold a technical meeting to review the disease risk assessment report according to WTO regulations and is awaiting Viet Nam's response on the quarantine certificate sample.

Tilapia product prices still tend to increase

Representing the business sector, Mr. Doan Chi Thien, Deputy General Director of Nam Viet Group, said that technical barriers have caused actual damage. Many shipments faced prolonged inspections at ports, incurring storage costs from 300 million to over 1 billion VND per shipment. Being forced to change the destination port causes logistics costs to increase by at least 30%, but thanks to supply shortages, export prices still tend to rise.

Mr. Thien shared that Nam Viet is currently 100% self-sufficient in large-scale specialized farming pond areas in the Mekong River basin. Although production costs are still 8% higher than China's, the enterprise is striving to optimize the value chain, ready to invest in cold storage and a breeding program in Brazil to establish long-term cooperation.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung highly appreciated the proactiveness of specialized agencies and VASEP. To turn challenges into an opportunity for comprehensive industry restructuring, the Deputy Minister requested the urgent implementation of 4 key task groups:

First, ensure disease safety transparency. The Department of Fisheries and Surveillance, in coordination with the Department of Animal Health and Production, must urgently complete and announce the national disease control dossier for tilapia, especially strictly monitoring the TiLV virus. The data system for farming areas and seeds must be provided transparently and accurately to create a solid legal basis for international negotiations.

Second, promote diplomatic dialogue. The Department of International Cooperations plays a focal role, coordinating with the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to soon send an official diplomatic note; simultaneously carefully prepare data to be ready for direct dialogue with Brazilian authorities.

Third, standardize processes and diversify markets. The National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM) accompanies VASEP to guide businesses to review the entire production process, proactively diversify products and expand alternative markets to minimize risks.

Fourth, plan a "billion-dollar" vision. The Department of Fisheries and Surveillance needs to focus on building a methodical, long-term strategic development plan for tilapia. Soon issue technical regulations for each farming method to end fragmentation, aiming to turn tilapia into a billion-dollar export industry by 2030.

Deputy Minister Vo Van Hung emphasized that companionship and close coordination among management agencies, associations, and the business community are the crucial "keys" to quickly clear bottlenecks, helping the tilapia industry overcome barriers and affirm its solid position in the international market.