FAO: Third Quarter Global Tilapia Market Analysis Report, Global Trade Slows, China Under Pressure to Transform, Vietnam's Exports Soar

The report indicates that the United States maintains a high import tariff of 55% on Chinese tilapia products, severely undermining the competitiveness of Chinese products in the North American market. U.S. importers are turning to low-cost white meat fish species (such as basa fish), leading to a continuous decline in the volume of tilapia trade between China and the U.S. Meanwhile, Africa has become an important growth point for China's frozen whole fish exports, with significant increases in demand from Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso, partially offsetting the decline in exports to the U.S. In the first half of 2025, the Chinese tilapia industry experienced one of the most challenging periods in recent years. Affected by multiple factors such as heavy rains, typhoons, and reduced U.S. orders, there was a surge in raw fish supply, leading to high inventory levels, forcing processing plants to purchase at reduced prices. Despite these challenges, China's exports of frozen whole ...