Israel remains Vietnam’s largest tuna import market in the Middle East and is also among the country’s major tuna importers globally. This suggests that it is not only a market for mass products but also one with relatively diverse demand across different segments.
In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel reached over USD 39 million, down nearly 40% compared to 2024. This reflects a sharp drop in Israel’s import demand amid geopolitical instability, rising logistics costs, and the need for importers to restructure their supply sources. Over the past year, Israeli importers have tended to diversify suppliers, increasing purchases from Thailand, Ecuador, and the Philippines due to their advantages in pricing and more stable supply.
This is a key point Vietnamese businesses need to pay attention to. Israel is no longer a market where Vietnam can rely heavily on its existing position. Competitive pressure now mainly comes from suppliers with larger scale, more competitive pricing, and more stable delivery chains. In recent years, Thailand has consistently been the largest supplier of canned tuna to Israel, with Vietnam ranking second. However, recent trends show that Israel is expanding sourcing from multiple origins to reduce dependence on a few partners and optimize input costs.
On the demand side, Israel’s tuna import outlook may be supported by two main factors. First, the OECD notes that the cost of living in Israel remains very high, and trade barriers, import procedures, and low competition have contributed to elevated consumer prices. Recent import reforms are expected to increase competition and reduce prices. Second, from January 1, 2025, Israel began implementing a new food reform package, incorporating more than 40 European regulations and guidelines into domestic law, covering most food and beverage products. This indicates a policy trend toward greater openness, harmonized standards, and reduced technical barriers for importers.
For Vietnamese tuna exporters, this presents a notable opportunity. As Israel promotes import reforms to lower consumer prices, convenient, long-shelf-life, and high-utility food products such as canned tuna, frozen tuna, and semi-processed tuna are likely to maintain strong demand. In the short term, import demand is expected to prioritize suppliers offering reasonable prices, reliable delivery, and straightforward compliance documentation, rather than higher-priced products or those with longer lead times. Therefore, Vietnam’s opportunity lies not only in selling more, but in targeting the right segments: processed, convenient products with stable quality and cost efficiency.
A new advantage for Vietnamese products is the Vietnam–Israel Free Trade Agreement, which came into effect on November 17, 2024. According to official sources, Israel immediately eliminated tariffs on 66.3% of tariff lines, with the remainder to be reduced gradually. This provides an important foundation for Vietnamese processed food products, including tuna, to improve price competitiveness in this market during 2025–2027.
However, tariff preferences do not mean businesses can be complacent. Israel remains a market sensitive to quality, traceability, and supply consistency. Although import reforms are moving toward harmonization with European standards, exporters still need to carefully verify specific import requirements with partners and relevant authorities before shipping. At the same time, regional security tensions and disruptions to shipping routes through the Red Sea remain factors that could increase logistics costs and affect importers’ purchasing decisions.
Looking ahead, if no new geopolitical or logistics shocks occur, Israel’s tuna imports in 2026 are likely to continue improving from the low base of 2025. However, competition in this market is expected to intensify, particularly in the mid-priced segment.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, tuna exports in the first month of 2026 reached over USD 75 million, up 13% compared to the same period in 2025. Notably, exports increased in most key markets such as Japan, the EU, and Russia, while exports to the United States fell by 6%—a contrasting development amid ongoing adjustments in U.S. import tariff policies and new compliance requirements under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which took effect at the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded strong growth, reaching USD 15 million, up 109% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, in the first three months of 2026, export value reached USD 38 million, an increase of 174% year-on-year. This result highlights the sector’s robust expansion and reflects rapid growth across multiple markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In March 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached USD 182 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulatively, exports in the first three months of 2026 totaled USD 514 million, an increase of 17% year-on-year, indicating that the growth momentum is being maintained despite signs of slowdown in some markets during March.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During peak heat periods, farmers raising pangasius, tilapia, and other freshwater fish in Dong Thap are implementing various technical measures to reduce risks and maintain stable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
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