The tuna retail market of Germany mainly consists of private brands, in fact these brands accounted for a market share of 70-75%. Imported canned tuna products are mainly distributed by major retailers such as Edeka - the largest food retailer in Germany, REWE supermarket chain, and discount grocery stores (Aldi and Lidl).
In the first 9 months of 2019, Germany imported 58,368 MT of processed and canned tuna. Of which more than 77% of shipments are imported from non- EU countries. Ecuador exported nearly 220 tuna container to Germany and become the largest tuna supplier for Germany in 2018. But in 2019, due to high import prices of processed and canned tuna from Ecuador, orders from Germany decreased. Specifically, import volume of canned and processed tuna from Ecuador into Germany in the first 9 months of 2019 crashed by nearly 45%, reaching 10,315 MT. As a result, Ecuador is losing market share in food services segment in this market.
Papua New Guinea is also losing market share in Germany. The country exported more than 10,847 MT of processed and canned tuna to Germany in the first 9 months in 2018. However, export volume in the same period in 2019 was only 9,753 MT, down 6%.
The Philippines and Ghana are benefiting from that. Exports of processed and canned tuna of the Philippines in the first 9 months of 2019 rose by nearly 3%, reaching more than 13 million USD. The Philippines is currently the main distributor of canned and processed tuna products for Germany, not only for tuna products for retail market segment but also for food services.
Canned and processed tuna orders from Ghana into Germany also went up by 53% over the same period, reaching 3,354 tons. The main export products of this country to Germany were canned tuna with the sized cans of 2kg and 3kg, mainly for food services.
In 2019, the export volume of processed and canned tuna from Vietnam to this market has also declined by nearly 33% over the same period in 2018. Canned and processed tuna products of Vietnam has the lowest value compared to other countries (Papua New Guinea, the Philippines and Ghana) as processed and canned tuna imported from Vietnam is subject to a high tax of 20.5%, while these countries are exempted from taxes.
In 2019, Spain - the leading tuna-processing country, is also losing market share in German market. In the first 9 months of 2019, the country exported only 2,740 MT of processed and canned tuna to Germany, less than 62% compared to the same period in 2018. This is due to the fact that Spanish suppliers have distributed to importers outside the EU. Germany imports more canned and processed products from the Netherland. The country plays the role as a transshipment hub in the EU, where containers are delivered and redistributed through warehouses and shipped to other EU markets. However, imports of processed and canned tuna from the Netherlands into Germany in 2019 also fell by 14% to 7,397 MT.
(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
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