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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(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.
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