For late October and early November, the prices are at around $1,700-$1,720 per metric ton, cost and freight (CNF) Bangkok, for whole round, frozen skipjack, in sizes of 4-7.5 pounds (1.8-3.4 kilos).
Since hitting a peak of around $2,350/t in April, prices have continued to fall, with the current level down around 27% of this peak.
“For December, I wouldn’t be surprised if it [the price in Bangkok] dropped again,” an Asia-based source with a supplier told Undercurrent News.
Another source, based in the US, said he’d heard talk circulating of a deal done at $1,650/t, adding the price is definitely at $1,700/t.
“It’s certainly going in that direction [$1,650/t], which I think we will see for December fish deliveries, as the boats are now back fishing on FADS [fish aggregating devices]” in the Western Pacific, he toldUndercurrent.
From July 1 to Oct. 31, the Western and Central Pacific Ocean is closed to fishing using FADs.
Fishing was weak in the final few months of the FAD closure, sources said, with a lot of small fish caught. Despite this, prices continued to fall.
“Thai canners are trying to push the price of tuna down very hard, despite poor fishing in the Western Pacific the last couple of months, due to the FAD closure,” said one US-based source.
“It’s a ‘game of chicken’, between the traders and Thai processors right now, with the traders trying to hold the price up,” he said.
“If fishing is strong, expect prices to drop further,” said the source, of the next few weeks. “If fishing is soft, they will bounce right back up to $2,000/t.”
Buyers are aware the market is falling and plants around the world — Bangkok, Europe; West Africa; Indian Ocean; and Ecuador — are well stocked, sources said.
“With most finished product buyers in the US and Europe aware that prices are falling, but not yet bottomed-out, they are still staying out of the market, unless they have immediate need of some product,” one source told Undercurrent.
“So, production volumes haven’t picked up to a level that will absorb this fish in the short term. We still have some way to go, in my opinion,” he said.
“Worldwide, canneries are mostly well supplied, with some Bangkok plants covered well into January, so canners can out-wait the traders in many cases. Interesting times ahead,” the source said.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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