Processed tuna continued to be the main export product of China, accounting for over 53% of total export volume. In 2019, China tended to boost exports of processed tuna products, while reducing exports of live/fresh and frozen tuna products to markets. Compared to the same period in 2018, the country's canned tuna exports in the first 11 months of 2019 increased by 16%, while exports of live/fresh and frozen tuna fell by 12%.
In 2019, tuna products of China were exported to more than 86 markets in the world. In particular, EU, Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, Algeria, Vietnam, Russia and Iran were the 8 largest tuna importers of China, accounting for 77% of total tuna export volume of this country.
In 2019, due to the impact of the US-China trade war, China's tuna products exports to the US were subject to high tariffs of up to 25%, reducing the competitiveness of Chinese tuna products in the US market. Therefore, in 2019, China's tuna exports to the US sank. China, as a main supplier of tuna for the US market, has lost market share to Asian countries such as Thailand and Vietnam. The United States was also out of the list of the largest Chinese tuna importer. Instead, in 2019 Chinese tuna exporters shifted their exports to EU markets to offset the decline in the US market. In the first 11 months of 2019, China's tuna exports to the EU increased by 42% in volume and 18% in value. The EU was the largest importer for canned tuna products from China in 2019. Other than EU, China also tended to increase tuna exports to Middle Eastern countries, especially Iran. In recent years, China's tuna exports to Iran market have tended to grow continuously. In the first 11 months of 2019 alone, China's tuna exports to Iran increased by 19% in volume and 8% in value. Given this export trend of China, competition in the Middle East tuna market is expected to be more severe.
Besides, with the resource of being the largest fishing fleet in the world, China was the supplier of raw tuna for processing and re-export of some countries in Asia such as Thailand, Philippines and Vietnam. These contries imported alot of skipjack, yellowfin and frozen bigeye tuna from China. By the end of November 2019, while Thailand tended to increase tuna imports from China, imports of Vietnam and the Philippines decreased.
However, by early 2020, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 in this country, China's tuna exports were stagnant, and tuna consumption in markets was also affected. It is expected that China's tuna exports will drop sharply, especially in the first months of 2020. The decline in tuna exports of China means that the supply of tuna materials on the world market will also be significantly affected.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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