Specifically, according to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, tuna export value in September reached US$53 million, down 2.4% compared to the same period in 2018. However, thanks to the positive growth in previous month, the total tuna export value in the first 9 months of 2019 still increased by 15.4% over the same period in 2018, reaching nearly US$547 million.
The US
Vietnamese tuna exports to the US in September continued to maintain a positive growth rate, up 39% compared to September 2018. With this growth rate, the proportion of the US market in total tuna exports of Vietnam is also increasing.
According to experts, Vietnam is benefiting from the US-China trade war. In the first 9 months of 2019, export of processed tuna (except for HS 16), of which mainly frozen skipjack/yellowfin tuna loin went up by 184% compared to the same period in 2018. Canned tuna exports increased by 32% while frozen tuna loin HS0304 increased by 51%.
EU
Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU tend to decrease. Particularly in September, tuna exports to the EU declined by more than 33%. Therefore, the total value of Vietnamese tuna exports in the first 9 months of 2019 still slid by nearly 10%, reaching more than US$106 million.
By the end of September 2019, the 3 largest tuna importers of Vietnam in the EU had changed. Spain is currently leading with a proportion of 3.6%, with import value reaching nearly US$20 million in the first 9 months of 2019, followed by Italia at 3% and Netherlands at 2.0%.
Notably, in September, Vietnamese tuna exports to these markets went down simultaneously. Particularly, thanks to good growth in the previous months, so in the first 9 months of 2019, Vietnamese tuna export value to Italia still increased by 25.8% over the same period.
Among Vietnamese tuna export products to the EU, only live/fresh/frozen and dried tuna HS code 03 (except frozen tuna loin HS0304) increased over the same period in 2018. Exports of other tuna products all declined.
ASEAN
Vietnamese tuna exports to ASEAN in September decreased by 24% after continuous growth in the previous 2 months.Therefore, the total tuna export value of Vietnam in the first 9 months still decreased by 4.4% over the same period, reaching US$37.5 million.
The decline in Vietnamese tuna export value to this market is due to a decrease in exports to Thailand, the largest importer in the bloc. This year, Vietnamese exports of fresh, frozen and dried tuna products to Thailand have increased sharply by 122%. Meanwhile, processed tuna exports, the main export item of Vietnam, decreased 21% over the same period.
Japan
Contrary to the trend of Vietnamese tuna exports to ASEAN, exports to Japan in September continued to rise. Tuna export value of Vietnam to this market lifted by 19.4% compared to September 2018, As a result, the total tuna export value to Japan in the first 9 months increased by 7.3% compared to the same period in 2018.
Most Vietnamese tuna export products to Japan all climbed over the same period in 2018, except for frozen tuna loins HS0304. In 2018, frozen tuna loin code HS0304 was the main export item of Vietnam to Japan, in 2019 other processed tuna products are dominating. The export value of other processed tuna products accounted for more than 46%. Besides, the export of canned tuna to Japan also tends to increase.
Given this situation, it is expected that tuna exports in the last months of 2019 will likely continue to decline.
(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.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
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