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.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam has strengthened its position in China’s massive seafood market, becoming the largest lobster supplier while maintaining a dominant share of the country’s imported pangasius.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026 was more than just a larger exhibition space. Through B2B meetings, booth discussions, production-chain visits and post-show feedback, businesses and buyers found something more concrete: suitable suppliers, processing capabilities, technology solutions, new markets and a foundation for building long-term trust and partnerships.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States declined significantly in the first seven months of 2026. Cumulative export value reached US$18 million, down 42% from the same period in 2025. In July alone, exports amounted to just US$2 million, plunging 70%, indicating a clear slowdown in import demand from the US market.
(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the United States reached US$189 million, down 8% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached US$22 million, down 28%. This trend indicates that U.S. demand for pangasius imports has remained relatively cautious this year, as importers tend to maintain moderate inventory levels and limit stockpiling.
(vasep.com.vn) After three days at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam International Fisheries Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 – has successfully concluded, leaving a strong impression in terms of scale, visitor numbers, the quality of business connections, and innovative activities. With more than 14,000 m² of exhibition space, 335 companies, 568 booths, participation from representatives of 17 countries and territories, and nearly 15,000 visitors, VIETFISH 2026 has once again affirmed its role as an important meeting point for Vietnam’s and the global seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn