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) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
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