Impressive seafood export turnover
According to data from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam's tuna exports in December 2024 reached nearly USD 86 million, a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Cumulatively for the entire year 2024, tuna export turnover reached USD 989 million, a 17% increase compared to 2023.
Over the past year, exports of all Vietnamese tuna product groups increased year-on-year. Notably, exports of other processed tuna products, after a continuous decline in the first months of the year, experienced continuous growth in the final months, increasing by 24% year-on-year and accounting for 17% of total export turnover. In contrast, exports of canned tuna products tended to decline in the latter half of the year. Cumulatively for 2024, canned tuna exports increased by 17%.
Vietnam's frozen tuna meat/loin products still hold the highest proportion. Exports of this product group in 2024 rebounded and showed a rapid upward trend in the final months of the year.
Across markets, by the end of 2024, tuna exports to key markets remained higher than in 2023. However, export growth rates tended to be unstable in the second half of the year. Notably, tuna exports to the EU saw a slight rebound in December.
Along with the EU, tuna exports to Canada, after a period of decline, also accelerated in the final two months of the year. In December 2024 alone, tuna exports to Canada increased by 40% compared to the same period in 2023.
Conversely, exports to Japan have been declining continuously in the last two months of the year. In December 2024, exports to this market decreased by 27%. Exports to Israel also experienced a decline in December, with a 28% decrease compared to the same period.
Opportunities and challenges in 2025
Vietnam's tuna industry is expected to maintain its growth momentum in 2025 due to continued growth in demand for products. Furthermore, innovations in tariff policies in international markets, particularly in the US, are expected to provide a boost to exports.
Analysis suggests that in a potential second term of a US presidency under the previous administration, Vietnam could continue to benefit from high tariffs imposed on products imported from China. Additionally, the initial months following the reinstatement of tariff preferences under trade agreements present a favorable opportunity for businesses to increase exports to various markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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