By the end of May 2020, Vietnam's tuna export value reached nearly US$ 241 million, down nearly 20% compared to the same period in 2019. Export to most of the top 10 importers of Vietnamese tuna declined in value. Except for exports to Japan spiked by 31% and to Egypt surged by 76% over the same period in 2019.
Due to the impact of the epidemic, the demand for canned tuna products in the world continues to rise, which has also affected Vietnam's tuna exports. According to Customs statistics, only Vietnamese canned tuna exports have increased by 9% over the same period in 2019.
The US: Vietnamese tuna export to this market has not shown any sign of recovery. By the end of May 2020, Vietnamese tuna export value to the US was only nearly US$102 million, down 21% compared to the same period in 2019.
So far, the COVID-19 epidemic has continued to be complicated in the US, which has increased the demand for preserved food products in the country, including canned tuna. Therefore, canned tuna exports to this market still lifted by nearly 11% over the same period in 2019.
EU: The EU was also affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, especially in Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. Lockdown measure imposed in some countries like Italy caused a decline in the demand for seafood as the business of catering services, restaurants, hotels, and schools were closed. The business stall caused seafood distributors to reduce prices, affecting the price of imported seafood. Meanwhile, Vietnam's tuna product is difficult to compete with similar products from countries such as the Philippines and Ecuador due to high taxes. Besides, Vietnamese tuna was also affected by the yellow card warning by EC. Hence, Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU are facing many difficulties. By the end of May 2020, Vietnamese tuna export value to the EU reached US$ 48 million, down 11% compared to the same period in 2019. Of which, exports to Italy and the Netherlands in May fell, while exports to Germany continue to rise.
ASEAN: By the end of May 2020, the value of tuna exports to ASEAN reached US$15 million, down 17% from the same period in 2019. Thus, up to this point, ASEAN has been the third-largest importer of Vietnamese tuna (after the US and EU), accounting for 6.4% of the total tuna export value. Notably, tuna export to the biggest market in the region, Thailand also fell by 68%, exports to the Philippines decreased by 50% but the export value to Singapore increase sharply by 438% compared to the same period in 2019. This is the market that reached the highest growth among the top 10 importers of Vietnamese tuna.
With the complicated situation of the Covid-19 epidemic in major importers such as the US, the EU, ... tuna exports in the second quarter could hardly escape the negative growth. In the 3rd quarter, if the disease situation in some large importers is under the control, production, and business activities reopen, the tuna export will have a chance to recover.
(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.
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