Exports to major markets are volatile
In December 2023, Vietnam's tuna exports to many markets had increased over the same period such as the EU, Russia, Chile, and the Philippines... Exports to the US, Canada, Japan, or Israel had decreased, however, the decrease was not sharp.
Exports to the US, Vietnam's largest tuna import market, after continuous growth in October and November, decreased slightly in December. Tuna exports to the US reached 25 million USD this month, down 1%. For the whole year 2023, tuna exports to the US had reached 326 million USD, down 33%.
Along with the US, Vietnam's 2nd largest single tuna import market, Israel, is also decreasing imports by 6% in December. However, due to good growth in the previous months, exports to this market for the whole year 2023 had increased by 37%, reaching more than 50 million USD.
Exports to Canada and Japan were also declining in December, with declines of 12% and 8%, respectively.
Contrary to the trend of exports to the above markets, exports to the EU continued to grow well, up 25% in December. However, for 2023, exports to this market block had only increased slightly by 6% compared to 2022. In this market block, Italy is still a bright spot market with a "galloping" growth rate, up 361% compared to 2022.
After a period of instability, tuna exports to Russia increased continuously again in the last months of 2023. In December alone, tuna exports to Russia increased by 96% over the same period. For 2023, exports to this market had reached nearly 29 million USD, up 18% compared to the previous year.
In 2024, many challenges make tuna exports recover slowly
2024 is a year with many difficulties, especially the European Commission (EC) maintains a yellow card warning for Vietnam's caught seafood products. In addition, the price of raw tuna on the world market has cooled down, but tensions in the Red Sea have caused freight rates to increase, which will make the price of finished tuna still high. Meanwhile, inflation in major countries has been contained, and the world economy has escaped the bottom but recovered slowly, so the demand for tuna imports in many countries has not shown signs of recovery. Competition in markets is increasingly fierce and inventories of processing and exporting enterprises are high. All these factors will hold back the recovery of Vietnam's tuna exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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