Vietnam-the second largest tuna supplier to US

Through November 2013, tuna imports into the U.S. reached 243,457 MT, worth over US$1.4 billion. These figures are down 4 percent year-on-year in volume and 7 percent in value. The country sources tuna from 82 suppliers in the world in which 4 ASEAN countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia) are leading tuna suppliers to the U.S.

Vietnam: Through November 2013, tuna exports to the market hit over US$177.6 million, down 23 percent year-on-year. Exports of frozen/live/fresh tuna and processed tuna to the market downed 34 percent and 7 percent, respectively.Thailand: Through November 2013, Thailand –the largest tuna supplier to the U.S. exported 92,086 MT of tuna products, worth US$470 thousand to the market. Thailand sold the U.S. mainly frozen tuna, making up 97 percent of total export value. Exports of the item from Thai to U.S. downed 5 percent year-on-year. Besides, exports of frozen/live/fresh tuna to U.S. downed 63 percent. Accordingly, Thai’s tuna exports to U.S. in 2013 were expected to be lower than 2012.

Philippines: Downgraded to the third position among leading tuna suppliers to the U.S. Through November 2013, Philippines’s main exported products (frozen/live/fresh tuna) to the U.S. downed over 36 percent year-on-year with the value of US$62.5 million. Besides, exports of processed tuna were on the downward trend of 27.6 percent with the export turnover of US$54 million. Predictably, Philippines’s tuna exports in 2013 to the market reported a reduction from 2012.

Indonesia: Through November 2013, tuna exports to the U.S. reached over US$136 million, down 8 percent year-on-year in which exports of frozen/live/fresh tuna downed 2 percent and exports of processed tuna downed 22 percent. Tuna exports to the U.S. in 2013 was expected to see no improvement.

Despite decline in tuna imports from ASEAN countries, the U.S. increased tuna imports from Mauritius and Ecuador. In the coming time, tuna suppliers from ASEAN will face more competition from Mauritius and Ecuador suppliers.

Moreover, ASEAN’s tuna suppliers to the U.S. including Vietnam will be affected by Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act (DPCIA) approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and took effect since July 13th 2013. Under the Act, all canned tuna products in the U.S. market are required to have Dolphin Safe Label. It means that raw tuna must be caught without harming to dolphin.