The export growth rate to main markets in August tended to slow down. In addition to the decline in exports to the EU, Israel and China, tuna exports to Canada in this month also showed signs of slipping.
The US
Tuna exports to the US were very positive in August with a growth rate of 31%. As a result, the total value of tuna exports to the US in the first 8 months of 2019 climbbed by 56% over the same period in 2018. Exports of tuna product groups of Vietnam to the US all have increased over the same period in 2018, except live, fresh, frozen and dried tuna (excluding frozen tuna filets/loin). Among the product groups, frozen tuna filets/loin remained the largest proportion of Vietnam's total tuna exports to the US at 63%. Although canned tuna products accounted for a smaller share, yet exports this products are growing rapidly.
EU
Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU have not recovered. Tuna export value to this market continued to go down over the same period in 2018, reaching only nearly US$96 million, down 6.3%. Notwithstanding, the good news was that exports to Italy and Spain, the two largest tuna importers in Europe, are increasing tuna imports from Vietnam. Currently Italia and Spain are also the two largest importers of Vietnamese tuna in the EU.
Italia increased imports of live, fresh, frozen and dried tuna (excluding frozen tuna filets/loin) and other processed tuna (frozen steamed tuna loin...) while Spain tended to rise import of canned tuna and frozen tuna loin/fillets.
In contrast, tuna exports to the Netherlands continued to decline in August. Hence, the total export value of tuna to this market in the first 8 months of 2019, down 11.5%, only reaching nearly US$15 million.
ASEAN
In August, Vietnamese tuna exports to ASEAN continued to climb. However, the amount of growth was still not enough to offset the decline in the previous months, so the export value in the first 8 months of 2019 only reached US$ 33 million, down 0.9% over the same period in 2018. At present, Vietnamese live, fresh, frozen and dried fresh tuna exports to ASEAN are on the rise, while canned tuna exports tends to decrease.
Japan
In August 2019 tuna exports to Japanese market continued to grow well, reaching US$3.2 million, up 48% over the same period in 2018. In particular, the export of Vietnamese tuna product groups to the US all rose over the same period in 2018, except for frozen tuna fillets/loin. Notably, the group of canned tuna products tended to climbbed over the same period in 2018.
It is forecasted that tuna exports shall go up in the last months of the year, yet the growth rate will be at average level.
(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.
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