Products
In 2016, the export value of all tuna products from Vietnam reported the increase over 2015. Vietnam enterprises tend to boost exports of frozen tuna loin/ fillets (HS0304) and other processed tuna (HS16) including smoked tuna, packed tuna in oil, frozen cooked tuna flake...)
Importing markets
Top 8 importing markets of Vietnam including the U.S., EU, ASEAN, Israel, China, Japan, Canada and Mexico accounted for 87% of total tuna export value of Vietnam in 2016. By the end of 2016, Vietnam's tuna exports to the main markets have good growth, excluding the drop in Japan and Mexico.
Notably, in 2016, tuna exports to China reported good growth. In 2015, China was a small market of Vietnam's tuna. However, in 2016, China has become the 5th largest importing market of Vietnam tuna.
Tuna exports to Japan decreased, caused by unimproved quality of post-harvest tuna. Therefore, Japan slipped to the 6th position, accounting for 4%
The U.S.
The U.S. continued to be the largest importer of frozen tuna and canned tuna from Vietnam, accounting for 39%. In 2016, Vietnam exported more than US$200 million to this market, up 5.3% compared to 2015.
In 2016, the U.S. increased imports of fresh/chilled/frozen/dried tuna from Vietnam. The total export value of these items to the market in 2016 reached US$124 million, up 9.9% compared to 2015. Sales of frozen tuna fillet/loin (HS0304) to the U.S. rose by 18.5% compared to 2015 with the value of US$120.6 million, making up 47%. This is the main tuna product of Vietnam exported to the U.S. while sales of fresh/chilled/frozen/dried tuna to the market saw the decline.
EU
The EU continued to be the 2nd largest tuna importer of Vietnam in 2016, accounting for 22%. In 2016, Vietnam exported US$115 million of tuna products to the EU, an increase of 18.4%.
Tuna loin/fillet was the most exported product to the EU, accounting for 35% of the total export value of Vietnam tuna to this market, followed by canned tuna with the proportion of 31%; fresh/frozen and dried tuna (excluding code HS0304) accounted for 19% and other processed tuna with 16%.
3 leading importers of Vietnam tuna in the EU block were Italy, Germany and Belgium, accounting for 59% of total tuna exports to the EU and 13% of total tuna export value of Vietnam.
Japan
In 2016, Vietnam's tuna exports to Japan reached US$19 million, down 5.2%. Tuna loin/fillet was the main tuna products of Vietnam exported to Japan, accounting for 42.7% of total export value of Vietnam tuna to the market, followed by other processed tuna with 34%, fresh/frozen and dried tuna (except for HS0304) made up 15.6%.
China
The total sales of Vietnam tuna to China in 2016 hit US$21 million, up 67% compared to 2015.
Imports of fresh, chilled and frozen tuna into China from Vietnam increased. The sales of this product exported to China in Jan-Oct 2016 reached US$19.5 million, up 96% compared to the same period 2015. China raised importing canned tuna from Vietnam. The total export value of canned tuna from Vietnam to this market in 2016 was US$1.5 million, up 2,861% over 2015.
It is forecasted that Vietnam’s tuna exports to the U.S. and the EU in the early 2017 will reduce due to higher global tuna price. Exports to Japan will remain low due to high tax rate. Therefore, in the first quarter of 2017, Vietnam tuna exports is expected to decline.
Written by Nguyen Ha
Compiled by Kim Thu
(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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn