More than 600 participants from sixty countries and territories in the world, representatives from international organizations and relevant agencies, tuna exporters, companies and organizations providing various goods and services to the tuna industry attended the event. The event was officiated by the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand, Mr. Theera Wongsamut.
The main goal of 2012 tuna conference is to call upon international community to turn towards sustainable fishing with an aim to conserve tuna stocks, avoid deteriorating tuna resources due to method of excessive tuna fishing in many regions in the world.
The participants in the conference heard and discussed many issues related to world tuna industry. The follows are some outstanding issues of the conference:
- Catching tuna in the most environmentally friendly way, eco-label for tuna and developing techniques of tuna fishing and processing.
- Conserving tuna stocks by sustainable method of tuna fishing.
- Establishing more rational regulations on fishing, processing, and trading tuna.
- Discussing challenges in tuna trade in the wake of dwindling tuna resources, increasing tuna demand and price.
- Discussing cooperation among tuna stock management organizations, non-government organizations, tuna processors and exporters and consuming markets in tuna trade sector.
According to participants, the conference created a good chance for stakeholders in the tuna industry to share and exchange information, promote products as well as expand long-lasting business relations. Through evaluation reports on key markets of tuna sector, tuna exporters joining in the conference will have an overview of tuna import. Accordingly, exporters can access to more information of tuna market trends, tuna production and export.
Once again, Thailand is chosen as the venue of the conference. The tuna industry is an important economic sector in Thailand, creat jobs and foreign exchange for the country. In 2012, the country makes effort to speed up tuna exports to offset for the decline in tuna export value in 2011.
However, Thai tuna exports are coping with huge obstacles such as soaring price of raw tuna due to declining tuna catches caused by tighter international restrictions, conservation measures which are being applied in the region and in the world. The cost and freight (CFR) price of skipjack raw material in Bangkok had increased from US$918 per MT in 2006 to around US$1,800 - 2,025 per MT last year, Mr. Theera Wongsamut spoke at the conference.
It is expected that Thailand tuna exports would rebound this year, but this largely depends on raw tuna. As much as 85 percent of tuna raw material for local production is imported. Apart from the declining tuna stocks, limits on the number of tuna ships and pirate attacks have dampened the global tuna industry’s prospects even as global demand keeps rising.
According to the Thai Frozen Products Association (TFPA), the Thai canned tuna industry is expected to import more pre-cooked tuna loins for canning and reexporting. To offset the declining demand in the traditional markets like the U.S. and EU, Thai canners are aggressively diversifying their markets by exporting to as many countries as possible particularly to emerging markets like the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America and Africa. Exports to these new markets has increased tremendously in recent years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
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