According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, EU is the second largest tuna importer of Vietnam in the past 10 years. Since 2015, after Vietnam and EU officially ended negotiations and the agreement was released on 1/2/2016, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU increased continuously.
Currently Vietnam mainly exports frozen loin/fillet tuna and canned tuna to the EU market in the past 10 years. Before 2014, Vietnam's frozen tuna loin/filet tuna exports to the EU growed continously. However, it tended to fall continuously for 2 years and climbed again in 2017. For canned tuna products, it tended to rose continuously in the period before 2014, but then also went down continuously.
Germany, Italy and Spain were the three largest tuna importers of Vietnam in the EU. Germany imported a lot of canned processed tuna products, while Italy and Spain mainly imported fresh and frozen tuna products.
Vietnam's tuna products mainly compete with similar products from Ecuador, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and China. Vietnam is difficult to compete with other countries due to the catches, the scale and capacity of tuna production of these countries are higher than ours. In addition, it is difficult for Vietnam to compete with the Philippines and Ecuador because they enjoy preferential tariffs, while Vietnam is not entitled to incentives. Vietnam's seafood industry has been considered a "mature" threshold, i.e, a group of commodities with a relatively high export value to the EU in recent years. Therefore, from January 1, 2014, Vietnam have not enjoyed the offer anymore. Vietnamese tuna products are subject to a higher tax rate of 20.5%. This has reduced the competitiveness of Vietnamese tuna products in the EU market.
Under the EVFTA commitment, the EU shall remove tariffs on fresh and frozen tuna products (except for frozen tuna loin/fillet HS code 0304) as soon as the agreement comes into effect. For products of frozen tuna loin/fillet tuna HS code 030487, the EU shall eliminate tariffs for Vietnam under a 3-year schedule, from the basic tax rate of 18%, as soon as the agreement comes into effect. With the products of steamed tuna loin/fillet (raw material for canned tuna production), the EU shall abolish tariffs for Vietnam according to the 7-year schedule, from the basic tax rate of 24%. Particularly for canned tuna products (such as canned tuna in oil, in pouch, products of canned tuna family...), the EU shall exempt for these Vietnam products with the quota of 11,500 MT/year.
Thus, when EVFTA takes effect, it will be an advantage for Vietnamese tuna exporters in the long run. However, in the short term, businesses shall face many difficulties. Because this FTA includes a comprehensive chapter on trade and sustainable development, covering relevant labor and environmental issues in trade relations between the EU and Vietnam.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Rabobank, global tilapia production is forecast to exceed 7 million tons in 2025, driven by a strong recovery in major producing countries including China, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Among them, Vietnam is emerging as a potential tilapia supplier in the global supply chain, capitalizing on market fluctuations to expand production and exports.
By the end of Q3/2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry recorded a clear recovery as a series of leading companies reported strong profits — some even achieving the highest results in their history. After several quarters struggling with high costs and weakened demand, the latest business results indicate a robust comeback across the industry.
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