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) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(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.
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