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) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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