Notably, while Vietnam's tuna exports in the first 5 months of 2023 to the EU all decreased over the same period, canned tuna exports increased sharply by 71% over the same period last year. With this increase, canned tuna is Vietnam's main export product to the EU in this period, accounting for more than 50% of the total export value.
Meanwhile, EU canned tuna imports are decreasing. The high price of skipjack tuna in the world pushed up the price of canned tuna imported into this market by 18% in the first 3 months of the year, reducing the purchasing power of EU importers. EU canned tuna imports during this period also decreased by 21% in volume. Imports of canned tuna from the EU from main sources have mostly decreased.
After a decline in April 2023, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU increased again in May, up 15%
Among EU countries, Germany and the Netherlands are the two largest import markets of Vietnamese tuna in the first 5 months of the year. Compared to the same period in 2022, Vietnam's tuna exports to Germany and the Netherlands both increased by 23% and 26% respectively.
By the end of May 2023, Vietnam had more than 31 enterprises participating in exporting tuna to the EU market. In which, FoodTech, Bidifisco and Yueh Chyang Canned Food are the three leading companies in exporting to this market, accounting for more than 40% of total tuna export turnover.
This year, the combination of inflation, high inventories, and rising prices of canned tuna has led EU importers to seek increased imports from countries offering preferential tariffs, such as Vietnam. However, the current global situation regarding skipjack tuna prices remains unsettled. Moreover, the preferential tariff quotas allocated to Vietnam's canned tuna products under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) are nearing exhaustion. Consequently, Vietnam's exports of this item are anticipated to decline in the latter half of the year.
|
TOP 10 VIETNAM TUNA EXPORTERS TO THE EU, Jan-May/2023 |
||
|
No |
Company |
Proportion (%) |
|
1 |
FOODTECH |
15 |
|
2 |
BIFISCO |
13 |
|
3 |
YUEH CHYANG CANNED FOOD |
13 |
|
4 |
KTCFOOD |
8 |
|
5 |
TRANG THUY SEAFOOD |
8 |
|
6 |
TUNA VIETNAM |
5 |
|
7 |
CANFOCO DANANG |
5 |
|
8 |
AHFISHCO |
5 |
|
9 |
EDISON FOODS |
4 |
|
10 |
HAI TRIEU Co., Ltd |
4 |
|
(Source: Customs data) |
||
Compiled by Thuy Linh
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(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
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(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
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