Vietnam’s tilapia industry reached a significant milestone in March 2026, as export values climbed to $15 million, representing a staggering 109% increase compared to March 2025.

The first quarter of 2026 has proven to be a period of rapid expansion. Cumulative export values for the first three months have surged by 174% year-on-year. This upward trajectory highlights the industry's successful scaling and its strengthening foothold in the global seafood trade.

Key Market Performance

While demand is growing globally, the trade remains heavily concentrated in two primary regions:

• Brazil: Remains the #1 destination for Vietnamese tilapia, maintaining its position as the top importer.

• United States: Holds the second-largest market share at 28%, marking a 16% increase over the previous year.

Together, Brazil and the US now command over 70% of the total market share. While this dominance underscores the popularity of the product in the Americas, it also highlights a strategic dependence on these key markets as Vietnam continues to navigate the global landscape.

Dr Liliana Danila, Chief Economist, The Food and Drink Federation (FDF):

“The clouds are gathering, but the storm has not yet broken on rising food and drink inflation. The war in Iran has delivered a cost shock that is already too large for manufacturers to absorb in full. The impact on prices will take time to work its way through the system, but it’s only a matter of time before it does. For manufacturers, long-term contracts with suppliers and retailers mean it can take up to a year for higher costs to be fully passed through. But where products are less processed, or supply chains are shorter, prices will move more quickly. 

Source: Fish Focus | Read the full article here

A new report from Royal Bank of Canada has been highlighted by Canada’s salmon farming industry as evidence that federal policy is discouraging investment in aquaculture, particularly in British Columbia.

RBC said more than C$1 trillion in investment left Canada between 2015 and 2024, with C$2 leaving the country for every C$1 of foreign direct investment entering, according to SeaWestNews,The bank said Canada’s challenge was not a shortage of capital, but an investment climate weakened by regulatory drag, shifting policy signals and uncertainty that pushes money elsewhere.

Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here

The Norwegian salmon industry has become embroiled in a big row, with some companies being accused of trading with Russia.

The situation is complex, with few companies actually involved with direct trading, but some admitting they have been using feed with Russian-sourced ingredients.

The Norwegian government, like most western countries, has banned most direct trade with Russia following that country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. However, the issue is a complicated one, with companies pointing out there are no official sanctions against purchasing feed for farmed salmon from Russia.

Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here

Vietnam’s tuna export industry is navigating a turbulent start to the year. According to data from Vietnam Customs, export turnover in March 2026 reached nearly $80 million.

While this marks a sharp recovery from the $53 million recorded in February, it still represents an 11% decline compared to the same period in 2025.

Bidding for scallops from Mutsu Bay was put on hold after the first auction of "semi-mature scallops," primarily used for processing, failed to find any buyers due to price disagreements. 

Though the starting bid of 300 yen (about US$1.96) per kilogram was 85 yen (about US$0.55) lower than last year's record high, it was still deemed too high by dealers, who are currently struggling to sell off existing, high-priced inventory from the previous season. The auction featured 130 tons of the scallops.

This stalemate occurs amidst projections that scallop catches in Mutsu Bay are expected to plummet to around 10,000 tons this year, nearly half of last year's total. Despite this dramatic drop in supply, which usually leads to higher prices, the market resistance and inventory issues are complicating the start of the season. Fishery officials remain somewhat optimistic, suggesting that prices might stabilize after a few more rounds of bidding.

AKVA group and Laxey have officially entered into an agreement for the design and delivery of a second RAS smolt station in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland.

The deal, celebrated by Laxey CEO Knut Nesse and COO Dadi Pálsson at the Seafood Expo Global in Barcelona, marks a significant expansion of their land-based salmon farming operations.

A Proven Collaboration

Building on a partnership that began in June 2022, the new facility (Smolt Station II) follows the success of the first station, which is now fully operational and has delivered five batches of high-quality smolt to date.

Scaling for the Future

The expansion will be executed in phases to ensure stable production and minimized risk:

• Phase 1: Designed for an annual capacity of 5 million smolts (at 100g).

• Phases 2 & 3: Future scaling targets of 10 million and ultimately 15 million smolts per year.

Construction is slated to begin in the summer of 2026, with operations expected to commence by Q4 2027. This milestone reinforces Laxey's commitment to responsible, large-scale land-based salmon production.

The Philippine government is exploring measures to stabilize domestic fish supply and support the nation’s fishing industry as high fuel prices have strained operations and raised concerns over the affordability of staple foods such as canned sardines.

Measures under consideration include raising fish import volumes if local fishing activity slows or stops due to mounting fuel costs, Philippine News Agency recently reported, citing Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr.

Earlier this year, the country’s National Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management Council authorized fish imports of 250,000 metric tons (MT) for 2026. 

Author: Toan Dao / SeafoodSource | Read the full article here