In the US market, after a recovery in February, Vietnamese tuna exports to this market fell by 23% in March. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US caused the country to impose a shutdown. Accordingly, the number of people allowed in public places is limited, citizens are required to restrict participation in activities ... this has reduced the demand for tuna in this market.
Similarly, Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU also dropped by over 27% in March 2020. With the number of cases and deaths from Covid-19 increasing in EU countries such as Spain, Italy and Germany, Vietnam's main tuna importers, trading activities to these markets are leveled off. The system of restaurants and hotels that have stopped operating to avoid spreading Covid-19 has also reduced demand for tuna in the market. Besides, inventories on the EU market are at high levels, even higher than before the Covid-19 outbreak. The reason is that the tuna price in the world market at the end of 2019 at a low level has made businesses hoard more. At present, although the contract has been signed, the market has no demand, many export shipments to the EU market have not been delivered or detained.
ASEAN continued to be the third-largest importer of Vietnam, in the first 3 months of 2020, export value to this market reached 9.6 million USD, down nearly 15% compared to the same period in 2019. In particular, Thailand - the largest single importer of Vietnamese tuna in the bloc, also down 15% over the same period in 2019. On March 24, 2020 the Thai government decided to declare a national emergency to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, which also led to the suspension of many orders of tuna to this market.
In addition to the major importers, Vietnamese tuna exports to other markets such as Japan, Canada or Egypt are showing optimistic growth over the same period in 2019. However, the value of exports to these markets is still small.
Thus, it can be seen that the outbreak of Covid-19 has been affecting tuna trade activities in the world. Besides, the pandemic also caused the trend of tuna consumption in the world market to change. According to statistics of markets, the application of social distancing measures in countries has led to a sharp decline in demand for live, fresh and frozen tuna. Meanwhile, demand for small-size canned tuna rose thanks to increased demand for the stockpile of consumers. This common trend is causing businesses to look for a way to increase production and export of processed tuna, reducing exports of fresh, or frozen.
However, the outbreak of pandemic is also affecting the supply of raw tuna in the world. Specifically, due to concerns about the spread of the pandemic, many Pacific Island nations implemented orders to blockade completely or declared an emergency, preventing ships from entering and unloading at ports. This also caused a limited supply of raw materials, affecting tuna production.
Meanwhile, the tuna catches in the Western and Central Pacific region are low, which has caused the price of raw tuna in this area to rise, the raw tuna price in Bangkok rose by 50% since the end of February. While, prices in other regions such as Malta, Seychelles remain stable, and are at lower levels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
(vasep.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
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