Since 2021, due to the impact of Brexit and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam's tuna exports to the UK are unstable and tend to decrease. The value of Vietnam's tuna exports to the UK in 2021 only reached nearly 9.3 million USD, down 23% compared to the same period in 2020.
Entering 2022, the dual impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, plus the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, has impacted the British economy. Inflation in the UK has risen to a 40-year high and is almost the highest in Europe.
According to the statistics of the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS), the country’s CPI rose 10.1% from 9.9% in August 2022 due to soaring food prices. Figures for September 2022 are similar to those recorded in July 2022 and are the highest in 40 years, caused by soaring energy bills.
Vietnam's tuna exports to the UK are still difficult to recover
Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages increased the most, up 14.5%, the biggest increase since April 1980. The British pound fell to 1.13 dollars per pound.
This has caused the food service industry in the UK to be severely affected, especially the fast food sector, by labor shortages and high commodity prices.
In the UK, tuna is used mainly in fast foods, like sandwiches, or in many meals while traveling. Currently, labor shortages have affected the UK foodservice industry and the labor-intensive fast-food sector such as sandwiches. Many factories had to cut down production. This has led to a decline in UK tuna imports.
UK tuna imports by the end of July 2022 have decreased by 5% in value compared to the same period in 2021. Vietnam is currently the 13th largest tuna supplier out of 27 tuna supplies to this market. In the current inflationary context, the UK tends to increase tuna imports from sources that are exempt from import taxes, from cheap and geographically advantageous tuna sources such as Ecuador, the Philippines, etc.
Regarding tariff advantages, the UKVFTA has a continuation mechanism from the EVFTA, which means that tariffs on fresh and frozen tuna products will be quickly eliminated. Tariffs on frozen tuna loins or fillets will be eliminated over a three-year period from 18% to 0%.
For processed tuna used for canned tuna – the base rate of 24% will be reduced over a 7-year schedule.
For canned and packaged tuna, the quota will be 11,500 tons per year which will be duty free. After that, the original tax rate of 20.5% will be applied, which will be reduced by 3.5% per year.
With this agreement, Vietnamese tuna products are also having an advantage in the UK market. However, with the current inflation and political instability, Vietnam's tuna exports to the UK are still difficult to recover.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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