What opportunities exist for Vietnam tuna?
Currently, the U.S. is the largest market for tuna exports, accounting for over 38% of Vietnam's total tuna export value. Vietnam's tuna exports to this market have been steadily increasing over the past 10 years, rising from $175 million in 2014 to nearly $327 million in 2023, almost doubling.
In 2023, due to the impact of inflation, Vietnam's tuna exports to the U.S. dropped by 33% compared to 2022. However, in 2024, exports to this market have been steadily increasing. While the growth rate slowed down in the last months of the year, the export value remains higher compared to the same period in the past two years.
During his first term, Donald Trump implemented high tariffs on imported tuna products from China, causing U.S. importers to shift their focus to Vietnam. This helped Vietnam increase its market share in the U.S. tuna market in recent years.
In his second term, Trump proposed imposing tariffs of 10-20% on imports from other countries, with China facing up to 60%. This presents an opportunity for Vietnamese seafood products, including tuna, to increase exports to the U.S.
In his second term, Trump has made reducing the trade deficit a priority, meaning the U.S. will closely monitor the origin of products. Therefore, Vietnam will face new trade defense measures from the U.S., including stricter controls on imported seafood and quality standards.
Moreover, many experts predict that, due to its geographical proximity to China, Vietnam could be seen as a gateway for Chinese goods entering the U.S. The U.S. government might try to block this loophole and impose tariffs on goods from Vietnam. As a result, Vietnam's seafood industry, including tuna, may face challenges if demand from the U.S. decreases due to high tariffs making imports too expensive.
Additionally, if losing the U.S. market, Chinese tuna exporters may look to shift their focus to other markets like the EU and the Middle East.
Specifically, after Chinese tuna products were hit with high tariffs during Trump's first term, Chinese producers shifted their exports to the EU market. This has increased competition in those markets.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Brazil remains one of the key markets for Vietnamese pangasius in South America. However, exports to the market showed signs of slowing in the first half of 2026, while frozen pangasius fillets continued to account for the overwhelming majority of exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Marking 27 years of supporting Vietnam’s seafood industry, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (VIETFISH 2026) will officially return from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, on its largest scale ever. Under the core theme “Innovation – Sustainability,” the event promises to provide a comprehensive picture of the transformation of Vietnam’s seafood industry toward greater value addition and sustainable development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than three weeks remaining, the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability," Vietfish 2026 will provide a comprehensive networking platform for seafood businesses, buyers, distributors, industry experts, government agencies, and domestic and international visitors.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the technical seminar “Green and Sustainable Technology Solutions for the Aquaculture and Seafood Processing Value Chain” will take place from 09:30 to 11:45 on August 20, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The seminar is jointly organized by VASEP, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, focusing on technological innovation and sustainable transformation across Vietnam’s seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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