Vietnam's tuna products have been exported to 81 markets. In general, in the first quarter, Vietnam's tuna exports to major markets increased over the same period. The US, EU, Canada, Israel, Japan, Egypt, Thailand and the Philippines are the 8 largest single tuna import markets of Vietnam.
The US
After a decline in the first two months of the year, Vietnam's tuna exports to the US in March recovered, so cumulative exports in the first three months of the year increased by 2.1% over the same period in 2020, reaching more than 63 million USD. Vietnam exports the most frozen tuna meat/fillets with HS code 03048700 and frozen steamed tuna meat/loin with HS code 16041490 to the US market. The average export price of tuna products with HS code 03048700 in the first three months of this year was at $6,488/ton, down 14% over the same period in 2020. The average export price of tuna products with HS code 16041490 was at $6,488/ton, down 10%. Currently, the average export price of these two product groups of Vietnam tends to increase gradually month by month, contrary to the trend of the same period last year.
EU
In March, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU also increased, bringing the total export value to this market in the first three months of the year to more than 28 million USD, up 9% over the same period in 2020. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread in the EU countries has made the demand for canned tuna in this region continue to increase. Besides, the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Vietnam (EVFTA) taking effect, allowing 11,500 tons of canned tuna from Vietnam to be exempt from export tax to the EU, is creating a driving force to promote exports to the market bloc. this. Therefore, Vietnam's canned tuna exports to the EU increased by 27% over the same period. Along with that, exports of fresh and frozen tuna with HS code 03 (except frozen tuna meat/fillet code SH0304) also increased over the same period.
Other markets
In the first three months of the year, Vietnam's tuna exports to large traditional markets such as the US and EU faced many difficulties due to lack of containers, increased transportation costs, etc. Therefore, many Vietnamese tuna exporters Nam has shifted to expand exports to other markets such as Korea, China... to offset the decline in major export markets. Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate of exports to Korea and China in this quarter was 378% and 51% respectively.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(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.
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