Ecuador’s tuna exports Surge
Ecuador continues to capitalize on abundant marine resources in the Eastern Pacific Ocean following favorable fishing years with standout export growth in canned tuna and frozen tuna loins.
According to data from International Trade Centre (ITC), Ecuador’s tuna exports in the first seven months of 2025 exceeded $1 billion, up 18% year-on-year. The majority of Ecuador’s tuna products are exported to the EU market, while expanding into China supported by recent trade agreements.
Although China is aggressively increasing exports of competitively priced frozen cooked tuna loins, pressuring Ecuador’s traditional share in certain European markets - Ecuador is still increasing volumes to preserve market share and explore new destinations.
The Ecuadorian government and processing industry are also implementing several sustainability and management initiatives - from vessel monitoring, enhanced data exchange for oversight to adopting technologies (such as ecoFADs and improved traceability) - to reduce IUU fishing risks (illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing) and enhance export credibility. These measures are helping Ecuador gain better access to high-standard markets like the EU.
Challenges for Vietnam
Ecuador’s accelerated exports create direct competitive pressure on Vietnam in European and Asian markets, especially in canned tuna and frozen tuna loins - segments where both countries are strongly engaged. Ecuador is leveraging its Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) fishing grounds and competitive processing costs to capture more market share, while China remains a low-cost supplier continuing to reshape the global price balance.
The increased supply of tuna products from Ecuador may drive down global raw skipjack and yellowfin prices, creating volatility in input costs for tuna processing worldwide.
Additionally, as Ecuador continues to deepen exports into the EU (currently its largest market), Vietnamese businesses may lose competitive edge if they fail to improve traceability and sustainability standards.
In terms of pricing, China’s lower-cost products in segments like frozen steamed loins have already disrupted supply chains in the European bloc. Therefore, Vietnamese enterprises need strategies to avoid competing solely on price.
Opportunities and Recommendations for Vietnam’s Tuna Industry
Amid rising competition, Vietnamese enterprises can strengthen traceability and sustainability certifications - which the EU and major retail chains prioritize for clearly traceable sourcing. VInvestments in monitoring systems, transparent supply chains and certifications like MSC will be essential.
At the same time, Vietnam should enhance product value, specifically by developing premium processed products (such as standardized loins, convenient packaged tuna, products for private labels) to avoid pure price competition.
Furthermore, diversify export markets is equally crucial. Alongside the EU, deeper penetration into Asian markets (China, ASEAN, Japan and South Korea) and trade negotiations to reduce barriers are needed, learning from Ecuador’s successful expansion into China.
Enterprises must monitor competitors’ pricing and supply strategies. As China and Ecuador may adjust sales tactics (selling low-priced loins to gain share), Vietnamese firms need to optimize production costs, improve customer service quality and build sustainable branding.
Ecuador has and continues to consolidate its position as a “tuna powerhouse” in 2025 through increased export volumes, market expansion and improved fisheries management - a trend that is both an opportunity (supply chain expansion, collaboration) and significant challenges for Vietnam in market and price competition. Effective response requires Vietnam to rapidly upgrade sustainability standards, diversify products and markets and strengthen seafood resource management capacity to ensure long-term competitive positioning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
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