In 2015, China sourced tuna from 37 countries worldwide with the volume of over 89,000 MT, worth by US$126 million, up 1.3% in volume and down nearly 6% in value compared to 2014. Tuna imports from Vietnam in 2015 reached more than US$12.5 million, a year-on-year dive of nearly 20%.
However, in the early 2016, Vietnam’s tuna exports to China reported the strong growth. According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, the tuna sales in QI/2016 touched nearly US$7 million, up 253% compared to US$2 million in QI/2015. Thanks to this growth rate, China has surpassed Japan and ranked the 4th in the top 10 leading markets importing tuna from Vietnam.
In the early 2016, China increased imports of tuna fillets/loins from Vietnam on par with the same period last year. Exports of the items from Vietnam to China in QI/2016 registered a year-on-year hike of more than 372%, with nearly US$1.4 million. Meanwhile, exports of canned tuna gained US$383 thousand, down 35% from US$586 thousand in the same period last year.
|
TUNA IMPORTS INTO CHINA |
||||||
|
Products |
Value (Thousand US$) |
Volume (MT) |
||||
|
2014 |
2015 |
Variation (%) |
2014 |
2015 |
Variation (%) |
|
|
Fresh/live/frozen tuna (HS code 03, except for 0304) |
119,488 |
114,072 |
-4.5 |
85,368 |
86,517 |
1.3 |
|
Tuna fillets/lions (HS code 0304) |
1,228 |
469 |
-61.8 |
59 |
42 |
-28.8 |
|
Processed tuna (HS code 16) |
12,919 |
11,513 |
-10.9 |
2,691 |
2,688 |
-0.1 |
According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), in recent years, while imports of processed/canned tuna (HS code 16) into China were on the downward trend, imports fresh/live/frozen tuna (HS code 03) recorded the rise.
A soar in Vietnam's tuna exports to China was driven by difficulties in exports to major importing markets (the U.S., the EU and Japan) that forced Vietnamese enterprises to shift to new and potential market of China. Besides, demand for tuna consumed in China and for producing and re-exporting to Europe by the local companies went up.
In the coming time, China stays as a promising market of Vietnam tuna.
Written by Nguyen Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy
(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.
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