Cumulatively in the first 8 months of 2021, Vietnam's tuna export value to China reached US$3.6 million, up 63% over the same period. From the end of May 2021, Zhanjiang - one of the major transshipment hubs in China has announced to suspend the import of frozen food from major seafood producing countries including India, Vietnam and Thailand. , along with 8 other Asian countries from June 20 to July 15, 2021. In addition, the outbreak of the fourth Covid-19 wave in Vietnam from the end of July has caused Vietnam's tuna exports to this market to tend to slow down from the beginning of the third quarter.
According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, China is increasing imports of frozen tuna meat/fillets with HS code 0304 and canned tuna from Vietnam. Among the tuna products exported from Vietnam to this market, frozen tuna meat/fillets with HS code 0304 accounted for 66% of the total export value, followed by canned tuna with 19%.
China imports a lot of tuna species, in which frozen whole skipjack tuna , purchased by tuna loin factories, accounts for the largest proportion. The majority of this tuna loin is exported to EU canning plants under an annual autonomous tariff quota (0%). Canned skipjack or other tuna products came in second, followed by frozen skipjack steaks, including mackerel.
In 2020, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, China's domestic demand for preserved products increased. The country's canned tuna imports increased by 71% compared to 2019, reaching 7,320 tons. However, entering 2021, experts expect canned tuna imports of this country to decrease, but will still be higher than 2019. In the first half of 2021, China's canned tuna imports only reached 2,218 tons. .
In addition, Chinese consumers continue to worry about corona virus infection from imported seafood. Therefore, this country increases domestic seafood consumption and will raise trade barriers in the near future. Even the control of Covid-19 through border gates and import ports will be tightened. Exports of frozen seafood products, including tuna, from Vietnam to this market are likely to slow down.
Currently, there are more than 23 Vietnamese tuna processing and exporting enterprises participating in exporting to the Chinese market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the context of a global economy shifting powerfully toward green and sustainable values, Vietfish 2026 is far more than just a commercial trade fair. It has become a strategic rendezvous and a "comprehensive ecosystem"—a convergence of value, knowledge, and sustainable growth opportunities for the entire industry chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Colombia continued their strong upward momentum in May 2026. Export value to the market reached USD 4 million, up 24% compared to the same month in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 24 million, an impressive 48% increase year-on-year.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.9 billion in the first five months of 2026, up 12% compared with the same period last year. Amid continued volatility in the global seafood market, this result demonstrates that the shrimp sector has maintained positive growth momentum, supported by improving demand in several Asian markets, particularly China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On June 16, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Ca Mau Province announced that the locality has established a farming area code for nearly 30,400 hectares of mud crab aquaculture and granted export facility codes to five enterprises eligible to export mud crab officially to markets such as China, Cambodia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Egypt is emerging as one of the most promising destinations for Vietnamese tuna exports in 2026. During the first four months of the year, export turnover to this market exceeded USD 7.3 million, marking a sharp increase compared to the same period over the previous two years. As Egypt’s tuna imports continue to recover and demand for canned tuna remains strong, the market is becoming increasingly attractive for Vietnamese tuna processors and exporters.
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