Brazilian tilapia exports to U.S. halted after Trump tariff

The new 50% tariff imposed by the United States on a range of Brazilian products, set to take effect next Wednesday (6), is expected to push Brazil out of its primary export market for fresh tilapia fillets. This assessment comes from the Brazilian Fish Farming Association (Peixe BR), which announced this week the suspension of shipments to the U.S.

Brazil was the second-largest exporter of fresh tilapia fillets to the U.S. in 2024. Based on data from the first half of 2025, the association had projected the country would take the lead by the end of the year. Last year, Brazil exported USD 59 million worth of tilapia to the U.S., a 138% increase compared to 2023, according to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa).

“The 50% tariff removes us entirely from the U.S. tilapia fillet market. As such, we now have to redirect this product to the domestic market and work to ensure that the impact on farmgate prices is not too severe,” said Peixe BR president Francisco Medeiros.

Brazil has no alternative market for fresh tilapia exports

According to Peixe BR, tilapia shipments to the U.S. continued normally until last week but were halted at the beginning of this week. The association also notes that Brazil currently lacks an alternative market for fresh tilapia. Exports to the European Union have been suspended since 2018.

“Brazil has no other market to send this product to. We could export to the EU, but shipments have been suspended because the Brazilian government does not meet the market’s requirements,” said Medeiros.

Imports of Vietnamese tilapia could undermine domestic production

With exports halted, production is now being redirected to the domestic market. According to Peixe BR, prices paid to producers are currently below the levels recorded in the same period in 2024. The association attributes this to a combination of increased supply and the seasonal decline in consumption.

Peixe BR also warns that the federal government’s authorization to import tilapia from Vietnam is likely to put further pressure on prices. The association has requested that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) revoke the authorization immediately.

According to Peixe BR, the arrival of lower-priced Vietnamese tilapia could have a more significant impact than the loss of the U.S. market. The imports were approved during a bumper harvest, a time when prices were already falling for both producers and consumers. “There is no justification for what the government has done,” said Medeiros.

Peixe BR data shows that Brazil has 237,669 rural properties dedicated to fish farming. The sector’s Gross Production Value (GPV) reached BRL 12.5 billion in 2024. Small producers account for 98% of the tilapia production chain, while cooperatives are responsible for 21% of national output. The leading Brazilian exporter to the U.S. is a cooperative, Copacol.

The association states that Brazil continues to utilize technology in tilapia production. The amortization period for these investments ranges from seven to ten years. Given the current scenario of suspended exports and competition from cheaper imports, Peixe BR foresees a risk of default on long-term credit operations. “The government opened the Vietnamese market to beef while closing off the tilapia market for Brazilian producers,” said Medeiros.

Source: Gazeta do Povo

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