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) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
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