Compared to September, Vietnamese tuna exports to major markets have seen many changes. Notably, the growth has returned to ASEAN and Canada. Meanwhile, tuna exports to the US market are showing signs of slowing down.
The US: Until the end of October 2019, the US continued to be Vietnam's largest tuna importer. The proportion of export to this market was still higher than the same period in 2018. Notwithstanding, after a period of continuous good growth, tuna export to the US in October has slowed down, making the proportion of the US in total tuna export of Vietnam decrease compared to the previous month. Tuna export value of Vietnam to the US in October was only equivalent to the same period in 2018, reaching US$26 million.
Currently, the US is the most diversified import market for Vietnamese tuna products with live, fresh and frozen and canned tuna products such as: Frozen yellowfin tuna loin, frozen yellowfin tuna cubes, frozen yellowfin tuna saku, canned bigeye tuna...
EU: Vietnamese tuna export to EU has not shown any sign of recovery. The export value of Vietnamese tuna to this market in October 2019 decreased by nearly 25% compared to October 2018. Therefore, in the first 10 months of 2019, Vietnamese exports to this market still fell by nearly 12% over the same period in 2018, reaching US$120 million. In particular, exports to the three largest importers in the block (Spain, Italia and the Netherlands) also declined by 7%,18% and 18% respectively.
ASEAN: Contrary to the trend of tuna exports to the EU, Vietnamese tuna exports to ASEAN are showing signs of recovery. The export value of Vietnamese tuna to this market in October rose by 10% compared to October 2018. However, due to the continuous decline in the previous months, the total export value in the first 10 months still slid by 3% over the same period in 2018, reaching US$43 million. In this market, Thailand continued to reduce Vietnamese tuna imports, while the Philippines and Indonesia tend to increase imports tuna from Vietnam.
Japan and Canada: These two markets are also continuing to increase tuna imports from Vietnam. Both countries are currently increasing imports of canned tuna from Vietnam, while reducing imports of live, fresh and frozen tuna. Vietnamese tuna is currently very attractive in these two markets after a gloomy period of export.
Mexico: In October, 2019 Mexico was still a thriving market. Vietnamese tuna exports to this market continued to grow at a high rate, up 255% over the same period in 2018. However, Vietnamese tuna exports to this market were not diversified. Currently, Vietnam only exported frozen tuna loin products to Mexico.
(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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