(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna export value to Italy market in June 2019 increased significantly to 728.9% compared to the same period in 2018. Not only that, from March to June 2019, the value of tuna exports to this market has been growing continuously. Thanks to this result, from the 4th largest importer in 2018, Italy has become the leading tuna importer of Vietnam in the EU regions in the first half of 2019.

Value chains, which involve fishing, processing and consumption of tuna, have helped Vietnamese tuna products gain competitive edge in more than 200 markets worldwide, according to insiders.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tuna exports in the second quarter of 2019 was still positive, growing continuously in each month. Vietnam's tuna export value in this quarter reached nearly US$203 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2018, bringing the total export value in the first 6 months to over US$366 million, up 21% over the same period in 2018.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Europe, the Netherlands is not a tuna producer, but a large transit country. The Netherlands is currently the 9th largest importer of tuna in the world and the 6th largest importer in the EU. This country is also the largest tuna importer of Vietnam in the EU. In the past 3 years, Vietnam's tuna exports to the Netherlands has grown continuously, especially frozen tuna products.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tuna exports to Canada in May 2019 continued to have outstanding growth, an increase of nearly 201% compared to the same period in 2018. With the continuous high growth rate, Canada's position in the ranking of the largest tuna importers of Vietnam is increasing.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Sub - Department of Fisheries (under DARD), in the first 6 months of 2019, fishermen in Binh Dinh province captured roughly 7,205 MT of tuna, up 4% over the same period in 2018. According to some middlemen, tuna prices are currently at VND 105,000/kg, down VND 12,000 from the previous month and VND 22,000/kg compared to the beginning of the year.

In Phu Yen, many travel agencies, along with local authority, are making efforts to promote ocean tuna products to domestic and international travellers.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and 28 EU Member States (EVFTA) is a new generation trade agreement, forecasting to bring more opportunities for Vietnam's tuna industry to penetrade markets. When EVFTA takes effect, Vietnam's tuna products shall have tax advantages compared to some other rival countries such as Thailand and China. These countries are holding large export market shares in the EU. However, both of them have not signed an FTA with the EU.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 8, in Binh Dinh province, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam coordinated with Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee to organize a 5-year summation meeting to evaluate implementation a pilot project on fishing, collecting, processing and consumption ocean tuna value chain.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2018, the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) was officially signed by 11 members, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. This agreement has been ratified by 7 member countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, New Zealand and Vietnam and has been in effect since December 30, 2018. Most of these markets are not big markets for Vietnamese tuna so CPTPP has not brought advantages for Vietnam tuna industry.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 5, 2015, Vietnam - Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) was signed and officially took effect from December 20, 2015. Compared to the previous signed FTAs of Vietnam and other countries, VKFTA does not really bring many advantages to the tuna industry.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Before 2015, Russia was a small market for importing tuna from Vietnam. But since 2015, when Vietnam officially signed the Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU - including Russia, Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Republic of Armenia and Republic Kyrgyzstan) (VCUFTA) and came into effect on October 5, 2016, Vietnam's tuna export has prospered. However, recently, Vietnam's tuna export to this market has decreased.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2018, tuna prices were generally softer than in 2017, but this did not have any impact on demand in the EU market. The amount of inventories in the EU market in the past year was high and the demand for ordinary canned tuna products was at saturation levels, thus affecting the import trend in this market. In the first 11 months of 2018, the EU's tuna imports decreased by 5% to 923 thousand tonnes compared to the same period in 2017. However, in terms of export value, EU's tuna imports still climbed by 11% compared to 2017, reaching more than US$5 billion.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 1, 2009, the Vietnam - Japan Economic Partnership Agreement took effect. According to commitments within 10 years of the entry into force of the Agreement, Japan will exempt duty on 94% of Vietnam's goods exported to this market, especially tax exemption for 86% of Vietnamese agricultural products (including tuna products). However, since the VJEPA agreement come into effect, Vietnam's tuna exports to Japan have not changed much.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a period of continuous decline, Vietnam's tuna export to the US in 2018 recovered in the last 3 months. Overall, total tuna export value from Vietnam to the US in 2018 still increased by 1.7% compared to 2017, reaching US$230 million. The reason for this growth was that the US restricted import of shipments from China due to the increase in tuna import tax.