(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU in 2021 were nearly equivalent to 2020, reaching US$144 million, up 6 %. However, tuna exports to countries in the bloc have changed and most notably to the French market.
Vietnamese tuna has been accelerated exports to France by the end of 2021
Tuna exports to France last year increased by nearly 103% compared to 2020, reaching more than 3 million USD. In the fourth quarter of 2021 alone, tuna exports to France reached nearly $1.1 million, an increase of 99% over the same period in 2020. In general, tuna exports to this market grew strongly in the second half of 2021.
The structure of tuna exports to France is also very diverse. In which, accounting for the highest proportion is frozen tuna meat/loin with HS code 030487 and canned tuna with HS code 160411, accounting for 49% and 47% of the total tuna export value to the market, respectively.
In 2021, there are 7 enterprises exporting tuna to the French market, of which the 2 companies with the largest export value are Halong Canfoco and Bidifisco.
According to statistics of the International Trade Center (ITC), France's tuna imports are on an uptrend and this country is the second largest tuna importer in the EU after Spain. Besides, France once again became the main importer of canned tuna in this market block in the past year. French canned tuna imports in 2021 reached the highest level in the past 5 years.
Vietnam is currently one of the 15 largest tuna suppliers to this market outside the EU. While tuna exports of countries such as Indonesia or Thailand to this market decreased, Vietnam's exports increased. Therefore, it is forecast that Vietnam's tuna exports to this market will continue to increase this year, especially when the preferential tariff quotas for Vietnam's tuna products as agreed in the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU (EVFTA) is restarted.