(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2023, canned tuna became the most exported product to the EU for the first time. Export turnover of this product group accounts for more than 40% of total export turnover to this market, estimated at about 71 million USD, up 28% from 2022.
According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, after declining in the first month of the year, canned tuna exports to the EU have grown continuously for many months afterwards, when tariff preferential quotas under the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Vietnam (EVFTA) were restarted. At one point, export turnover increased to 3 digits compared to the same period the previous year. At the end of the year, after the tariff preferential quota was used up, canned tuna exports to this market bloc slowed down and decreased in some months.
Vietnam's tuna products have been exported to 22 countries in the EU. In particular, Germany, the Netherlands and Italy are the 3 largest import markets for Vietnam’s canned tuna. In 2023, canned tuna exports to all 3 countries above increased, especially Italy with an increase of 456% compared to 2022.
According to enterprises, the increase in EU imports of Vietnam’s canned tuna is due to the high average import price of canned tuna products within the EU, so EU countries tend to increase imports from outside. In addition, the El Niño phenomenon caused a drought in the Panama Canal in late 2023, which hindered Ecuadorian tuna exports to the EU.