According to data from Vietnam Customs, the export turnover of tuna products from Vietnam in the first month of the year dropped by 16% compared to the same period, reaching over 66 million USD.
Among the various tuna product categories, all experienced a decline, except for fresh, frozen, and dried tuna (HS03 code) — excluding frozen tuna meat/loin (HS0304). Canned tuna exports saw the most significant decline, with a 36% decrease compared to the same period. This decline is attributed to the shortage of supply from domestic tuna fleets, making it difficult for Vietnamese canned tuna products to compete in markets with Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) like the EU, CPTPP, etc.
Vietnam’s tuna exports in January 2025 to major markets such as the US, EU, Israel, Japan, and Canada have all decreased compared to the same period last year.
Tuna exports to the US dropped slightly by 2%, totaling nearly 26 million USD. With concerns over potential tax increases, US importers increased their imports in the last months of 2024, which has led to high inventory levels in the early months of 2025. Moreover, fears over President Donald Trump's decision to impose new tariffs have caused US importers to limit new order placements. These factors are expected to impact tuna imports in the US during the early months of 2025.
Exports to the EU were also not promising in the first month, decreasing by 13%. Notably, canned tuna exports to this market dropped sharply by 21% compared to the same period. The preferential tariff quotas under the EVFTA agreement have been reactivated, but the ongoing shortage of domestic tuna supply continues to hinder canned tuna exports to this market.
Exports to markets within the CPTPP bloc also showed little improvement. Exports to Japan and Canada decreased significantly, with a reduction of 26% and 36%, respectively.
In 2025, the global tuna market is expected to continue fluctuating due to changes in consumer behavior, tariff policies, and supply-demand volatility. The free trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries will provide advantages for Vietnamese tuna exports to markets such as the EU, UAE, Japan, Canada, and more. However, meeting the origin rules remains a major challenge for the Vietnamese tuna industry. Standards for traceability, sustainable fishing, and combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing are becoming mandatory conditions in major markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
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