Exports of fresh/live/frozen/dried tuna declined by 16%, while those of other tuna products all increased compared to the same period in 2017. Sales of frozen tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304) continued to take a large share of 49%, followed by canned tuna with 28%.
The top eight major tuna importing markets of Vietnam included the U.S, the EU, Israel, ASEAN, Japan, Canada, Mexico and China, accounting for 88% of Vietnam’s total tuna export value. Exports to most of these markets witnessed the good growth, except the U.S, Canada and Mexico.
The U.S
After the growth in January, tuna exports to the U.S were on the downward trend. In the first three months of this year, Vietnam's tuna exports to the U.S gained US$40.8 million, down 8.4% over the same period last year. However, the U.S continues to be Vietnam's largest tuna buyer in Jan-Mar 2018, accounting for 30%.
In the period, although Vietnam's other processed tuna exports to the U.S increased by 164% over the same period last year, with the share of 8% in the total export value, this didn’t offset for the decrease in the total exports. Specifically, exports of frozen tuna loins/fillets hit US$24 million, down 12%; exports of canned tuna were US$13 million, down 11%; and exports of fresh/live/frozen/dried tuna reached US$534 thousand, down 58%. In this quarter, frozen tuna loins/fillets remained as the main export product of Vietnam.
The EU
Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU continued the upward trend. The figure in the first three months of 2018 was US$34.5 million, up 25% over the same period.
Exports of Vietnam’s tuna products in this period increased, except for canned tuna. Frozen raw tuna loins/fillets HS code 0304 remained as still the key export products, accounting for 40% of total export value. In the period, sales of other processed tuna to the market sharply increased by 332% to see US$ 6 million.
Japan
In the first three months of this year, Vietnam's tuna export to Japan showed the good growth from a year before. The figure in Jan-Mar this year reached US$6.2 million, up 27% over the same period in 2017.
Exports of fresh/live/frozen/dried tuna to Japan decreased by 95% over the same period while sales of other tuna products of Vietnam to the market had grown well.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn