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) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Rabobank, global tilapia production is forecast to exceed 7 million tons in 2025, driven by a strong recovery in major producing countries including China, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Among them, Vietnam is emerging as a potential tilapia supplier in the global supply chain, capitalizing on market fluctuations to expand production and exports.
By the end of Q3/2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry recorded a clear recovery as a series of leading companies reported strong profits — some even achieving the highest results in their history. After several quarters struggling with high costs and weakened demand, the latest business results indicate a robust comeback across the industry.
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