Vietnam's canned tuna exports continue to grow over the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, exports of fresh, frozen, and processed tuna products continued to fall.
By the end of June, tuna export value to most major importers slashed compared to the same period in 2019, except for ASEAN and Egypt.
The US: Vietnam's tuna exports to the US continued to dive in June. For the first 6 months of 2020, Vietnam's tuna exports to the US reached nearly US$ 127 million, down 20% over the same period in 2019. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for canned tuna soared, so the US went up imports of this product group from Vietnam, up nearly 10% compared to the first half of 2019. The growing outbreak of the disease is causing tuna exporters to worry about the market's resilience.
The EU: EU tuna imports from Vietnam continue to be a modest amount. The value of Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU in the first 6 months of 2020 was only nearly US$ 57 million, down 17% compared to the same period in 2019. Due to the effects of the Covid-19 epidemic, imports Vietnamese tuna from EU countries fluctuated unpredictably. In May 2020, Vietnam's tuna exports to the Netherland slumped, exports to this market in June reversed to increase. Meanwhile, tuna exports to the German market continued to grow well. However, like the US, although the EVFTA agreement will take effect early next month, businesses still cannot expect an export recovery to this market.
The ASEAN: In June, Vietnam's tuna exports to ASEAN reversed unexpectedly. Tuna export value of Vietnam to this market in June elevated to nearly 73%, bringing the total export value in the first 6 months to nearly US$ 21 million. Notably, while exports of other commodity groups of Vietnam declined, Vietnam's exports of canned tuna to ASEAN skyrockted, up 1,265% over the same period. It can be seen that the Covid-19 pandemic is having a great impact on the production and consumption of tuna in ASEAN countries, creating export opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.
Egypt: In the context of continuous decline in tuna export to major markets, Egypt was considered a bright spot with continuous high growth. By the end of June, Vietnam's tuna exports to Egypt increase tremendously by 74% over the same period in 2019, reaching nearly US$ 8 million. Egypt is currently importing a score of processed and canned tuna from Vietnam, especially canned tuna.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached US$1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. In September alone, exports totaled US$210 million, an increase of 16%. China, the United States, and Brazil were the three largest markets, accounting for 49% of total export value. While China and Brazil maintained their growth momentum, exports to the US remained below the level recorded in the same period last year.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(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 - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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