The Chinese tilapia industry is facing new pressures.

In the 28th week of 2025 (July 7-13), China's tilapia industry is facing a complex situation. The latest data shows that although the purchase price at the production site remains temporarily stable, it has caused widespread concern that the industry is facing continued pressure to ship goods because there has been no favorable tariff changes in the main export market, the United States.

Prices of 500-800g tilapia shipped to processing plants in Guangdong and Hainan remained stable. However, this apparent stability hides deep market changes. It is understood that orders from the US East Coast were completed in June and orders from the West Coast were also closed on July 5, all to avoid the new tariffs expected to take effect on July 9. This "rush to export" phenomenon has caused a temporary vacuum in US market demand, bringing huge uncertainty to Chinese exporters.

Several industry sources told reporters that the current fishing season in southern provinces is in full swing, and the market is well supplied. In addition, the absence of new orders from the United States may lead to a further drop in raw material prices. An executive of a large processing company in Guangdong said: "The downward trend in raw material prices is inevitable. Not only have processing plants focusing on the US market reduced their purchases, but even manufacturers targeting the European and Middle Eastern markets are also lowering their prices." The head of a Hainan company is more pessimistic: "As early as May, when the tariff was reduced from 179% to 55%, we foresaw difficulties. Now it seems that even without the imposition of new tariffs, the sales difficulties will be difficult to alleviate."

Industry analysts pointed out that under the current circumstances, maintaining a 55% tariff may be the best outcome, which requires corresponding adjustments in all links of the entire industrial chain, from farmers and processing plants to US importers.

Faced with difficulties, some companies have begun to seek new ways out. A representative of a Guangdong company said: "It is imperative to develop alternative markets, including the domestic market, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It is gratifying that the Maoming Municipal Government is promoting tilapia fillets to enter school canteens, which has opened up new sales channels for us."

At the same time, the performance of the US market is not optimistic. Data shows that the demand in the US market declined significantly in the 27th week. Although the overall trend was stable in the 28th week, price pressure has begun to emerge under the dual influence of seasonal factors and trade uncertainties. The wholesale price of frozen tilapia fillets produced in China generally fell by US$0.10/pound, among which the price of 5-7 ounces of chemical treated fillets fell to US$3.20-3.40/pound, and the price of 7-9 ounces of chemical free fillets also fell back to US$3.60-3.80/pound.

Referecen : FoodSpath