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) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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