Tuna production downed 15 percent year-on-year to 13 thousand MT in 2013 due to unfavorable weather conditions, high fuel cost for offshore fishing. Some fishing vessels suffered from losses due to low raw tuna price caused by its low quality.
Vietnam tuna exports in 2013 reported a year-on-year reduction although the number of importers of Vietnam tuna increased by 16 ones to 112 ones. In Q.IV/2013, Vietnam tuna sales hit US$112 million, down 16 percent year-on-year. The cumulative figure to the end of 2013 was US$526 million, down 7.2 percent.
The U.S., Japan, ASEAN, Israel, Tunisia, Canada and Mexico were leading importers of Vietnam tuna. They made up 86 percent of Vietnam’s total tuna exports.
Tuna shipment in 2013 saw a downfall mainly due to reduction in tuna exports to 3 leading markets (the U.S., Japan and ASEAN). Out of Vietnam’s total tuna exports, the proportion of tuna exports to the U.S., Japan downed 7 percent, 1.5 percent, respectively but proportion of exported tuna to EU up 4 percent.
The U.S.: Tuna exports to the market in 2013 gained US$187.4 million, down 23.4 percent year-on-year. Sales of dried/frozen/live/fresh tuna to the market downed 35 percent to US$95.68 million while sales of processed tuna downed 6.1 percent to US$ 91.7 million.
EU: Vietnam tuna sales to the block in 2013 hit US$140.7 million, up 24.4 percent year-on-year. In QIV/2013, exports of the item to 3 leading importers among EU block (Germany, Italy and Spain) saw a downfall.
In 2013, exporting processed tuna products to EU rose 81 percent with turnover of US$73 million while the country downed 7.4 percent in selling dried/frozen/live/fresh tuna to the market with earnings of US$67.9 million.
Japan: Vietnam tuna sales to the market in 2013 reached only US$42 million, down 22.1 percent year-on-year. Shipment of processed tuna to the market posted a year-on-year growth of 11 percent with revenue of US$6.6 million. However, the increase failed to offset the reduction of 26 percent in exporting dried/frozen/live/fresh tuna to the market with earnings of US$35.3 million.
ASEAN: In the first half of 2013, Vietnam tuna sales to ASEAN reported a great growth, however in late 2013, sales to the market were on downward trend. As the result, tuna exports in 2013 to the market downed 3.6 percent to US$35.5 million. In the year, ASEAN raised importing other processed tuna products from Vietnam with year-over-year growth of 9 percent. But, ASEAN’s imports of dried/frozen/live/fresh tuna (ext. tuna HS code 0304); tuna HS code 0304 (ext. fish cake and surimi) and canned tuna from Vietnam downed 16 percent, 2.5 percent and 48 percent, respectively.
Vietnam’s tuna industry in 2013 faced many bottlenecks which are high tuna inventory from main markets, lack of raw tuna, stricter requirements from importer markets. To ensure raw material for processing, domestic tuna processors must source raw tuna from other countries, however, they faced hiking import duty and complicated import procedures.
In 2014, Vietnam’s total tuna exports are expected to hit US$550 million, only up 4 percent year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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