From 2010’s peak of 65,800 MT, the U.S. imported 46% less of the raw material in 2011. American seafood giant Bumble Bee closed two of its plants last year, and the effect can be seen in the decline of imports. In July 2011, its albacore loining plant in Fiji closed temporarily after a dispute with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As a result, the small Pacific island nation’s market share dropped significantly from 2010 to 2011, with its export volume declining by 69% to a total of 4,600 MT.
Bumble Bee also entirely stopped processing albacore tuna at its factory in Trinidad and Tobago last September due to low production volumes. Trinidad and Tobago exported 5,600 MT in 2011, a 26% decrease from 2010.
Thailand, the leading exporter in tuna loins to the U.S., also fell 8% last year, but overall it showed exceptional growth from 2006 to 2011, peaking at 26,800 MT in 2010. Thai Union the owner of Chicken of the Sea has in 2010 set up a canning plant in the US, Tri-Union Seafoods, based in Georgia. This plant also runs entirely on pre-cooked loins.
Other exporting countries, not including Trinidad and Tobago or Ecuador, made a huge impact in 2011 as they made zero deliveries in tuna loins to the American market. This is a dramatic change from 2010, when they exported a combined total of 16,400 MT.
Since 2006, the U.S. imports of the raw material, used for canned tuna, have declined by 30% to reach the lowest point in the five year period, totaling 35,800 MT. This suggests the domestic canned tuna production is also decreasing, which mirrors the country’s shrinking consumer demand for canned tuna as well. Since 2000, about 11% of American households have stopped eating tuna.
At this years Infofish World Tuna Conference in Bangkok Thai packers also said they would be reducing their output of frozen pre-cooked loins due to the higher labor costs they are facing. Thailand will concentrate more on canning.
The closure this year of Bumble Bee its plant in Puerto Rico, is also a sign that even more of the US consumed canned tuna will in the future come either from tuna canneries in Thailand, Philippines, China or Vietnam or from American Samoa.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The “Moringa Noodles Salad” product by Sa Giang Import-Export Corporation was honored as one of the “Top 10 Winning Products” at the THAIFEX – Anuga taste Innovation Show 2026, held as part of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2026 in Bangkok.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(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.
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