Philippines had been the leading exporter to Germany for many years, but Ecuador has since taken over that position.
In 2011, Ecuador gained significant ground in the growing German tuna market, rallying from the middle of the pack in 2010 to become the top exporter with a quarter share of the market. Last year, the South American country boosted its deliveries by 107% to ship 15,149 tons of canned tuna, surpassing the imports from both Philippines and Papua New Guinea.
Ecuador has the second largest fleet in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and it catches the majority of the region’s skipjack (62%). It’s also one of the world’s largest processors of canned tuna, next to Thailand and Spain, producing more than 500 tons daily. It sends the majority (60%) of its canned tuna products to Europe, where it has duty free market access.
The Philippines, which also has a significant domestic fleet, also continues to be a major player in the German market, but its position is shrinking. In 2011, it shipped about 10% less for a total volume of 15,074 tons compared to 2010. While it controlled a relatively equal 25% share of the market with Ecuador last year, it previously accounted for 32% of Germany’s canned tuna imports. This decline could be caused by the disadvantage in duty that Philippines has compared to Ecuador. Canned tuna from Ecuador is duty free while Philippines has a 20.5% or 24% tariff.
Still, Philippines remains strong in the German food service sector, with most of the canned imports being in the 60.5 oz can size.
In that sense, the expansion of Indonesia and Vietnam (also with 24% duty) are remarkable. Compared to 2010, Vietnam’s canned tuna exports to Germany grew by 62% to 5,379 tons, while Indonesia’s climbed by 23% for a total of 8,027 tons.
Germany is also importing less duty free canned tuna from Papua New Guinea. Last year, the canned tuna volume from Papua New Guinea – which has duty free market access – declined by 22% to reach 8,300 tons. As a result, the country lost 6% in market share in 2011.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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