The most exported products to the US market were frozen loin/fillets tuna (HS code 0304), accounting for 62%. At the same time, exports also climbed sharply by nearly 58% over the same period in 2018, reaching to US$99 million. Canned tuna accounted for the second largest proportion at 23%, reaching a turnover of US$37 million, up 37%. The third most exported product was other processed tuna, accounting for 14%, also up strongly by 179% with US$22 million, mainly skipjack and steamed yellowfin tuna loin.
According to the statistics of the World Trade Center, the demand for US tuna imports increased by 5.6% in the first 4 months of 2019. Of which, canned tuna imports still accounted for the highest proportion of the total tuna import value of the US at 58%. However compared to the same period in 2018, this product line declined by 2%. US imports of frozen tuna loin/fillet products accounted for the second largest proportion, accounting for 23% and tended to increase, up 30% over the same period in 2018.
In the market segment of frozen tuna filets/loin, Vietnam is currently the second supplier for the US market, accounting for 31%, after Indonesia at 44%. Followed by Philippines at 7%, Taiwan at 2.9% and Canada at 2.8%. In general, at the beginning of this year, the US has tended to increase imports of this product line from other suppliers.
Meanwhile, in the segment of processed and canned tuna products, Vietnam ranked third, accounting for 9.5% of market share, after Thailand (46%) and Ecuador (14%). In the first 4 months of this year, the US declined 2.4% of processed tuna import value, of which imports from Thailand went down by 3.3%, while still sharply increasing imports from Ecuador and Vietnam.
Besides, in the past 2 years, the US has tended to increase imports of tuna family products, of which China was the largest exporter of tuna family products to the US. In the first quarter of 2019, the US imported only 1,304 tons from China, equal to one third of the total import volume compared to the same period in 2018.
This decline was likely due to the China - US trade war, as the tax rate for these items from China has increased from 4% to 10%. However, the prices of these products were still significantly lower than that of skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, or traditional longfin tuna, which were subjected to 12.5% of tax rate.
However, from 12:01 am on May 10, 2019, the US officially imposed a new import tax rate, increasing from 10% to 25%, for tuna products from China. This has reduced the competitiveness of Chinese tuna family products in the US market. US companies, therefor, will move to Thailand and Vietnam to find frozen tuna loin suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
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