According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the export value of Vietnamese tuna to Italy has been declining continuously month by month since June. Export turnover decreased from USD 6 million in June to just over USD 281,000 in November 2024, and is lower than the same period in 2023.
Currently, Italy is reducing imports of processed and canned tuna products from Vietnam compared to the same period. Among these, exports of frozen steamed tuna loin (HS code 16) have decreased the most sharply, by 50% compared to the same period. Canned tuna products have decreased by 16%.
According to businesses, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which officially came into effect, created opportunities for Vietnamese tuna products to penetrate the Italian market more deeply. Benefiting from the agreement, Vietnamese businesses have an advantage due to reduced tariffs and expanded export opportunities to this market. In addition, favorable geographical location, competitive labor costs, and extensive participation in the global value chain are important factors consolidating Vietnam's role and position in the Italian market.
Tuna industry faces difficulties right from the "input" stage
However, since Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP, effective from May 19, 2024, came into effect, it has caused a shortage of domestic skipjack tuna supply, affecting businesses' export activities to various markets.
Moreover, with less than one month left until the 2025 Lunar New Year, according to information from local fisheries sub-departments, many tuna fishing vessels in key provinces are still docked, with no clear date for returning to sea.
According to feedback from fishermen, while previously wholesalers purchased skipjack tuna at VND 30,000/kg, they are currently only buying at VND 17,000-19,000/kg. With this purchase price, if they do not lose money on fuel, they will lose money on labor costs, so ship owners have decided to keep their vessels docked.
According to the regulations in Decree No. 37/2024/ND-CP, the smallest permissible length for harvested skipjack tuna is 50cm. However, the output harvested by fishermen is mainly tuna under 2kg/fish and with a size of 30cm or less. Meanwhile, the output of fish that can meet the minimum size specified in Decree 37 accounts for only about 10%, leading to harvested fish not meeting the standards, so businesses do not purchase them.
This situation is causing difficulties for fishermen and will also cause businesses to lack a supply of raw materials with purely Vietnamese origin to enjoy tariff preferences under the EVFTA agreement. Therefore, it is expected that exports of frozen steamed tuna loin and canned tuna from Vietnam, not only to Italy but also to other markets in the first months of 2025, will hardly be able to maintain growth.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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