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) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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