"Our industry has to shoulder higher costs," said Theera at the 12th Infofish World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition.
Minister Theera Wongsamu at 12th Infofish World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition. (Photo: Infofish)
The cost and freight (CFR) price of skipjack raw material climbed from USD 918 in 2006 to USD 1,800 - USD 2,025 per ton in 2011, Infofish informed.
Last year, Thailand exported 594,751 tonnes of tuna, a drop of almost 2 per cent by volume, worth THB 60 billion (USD 1.9 billion). Import of frozen tuna fell by 5.3 per cent to 787,088 tonnes, mainly from Taiwan, the US, South Korea, Vanuatu, Japan, the Marshall Islands, Europe and the Maldives, Bangkok Post reports.
Wimol Jantrarotai, director-general of the Thai Fishery Department, said it is "unlikely" that tuna exports would continue to drop and that a rebound is largely contingent on how much raw tuna can be procured. Thailand imports as much as 85 per cent of 70,000-80,000 tonnes of the raw material required for production.
"Apart from the declining supply of tuna, limits on the number of tuna ships and pirate attacks have dampened the industry's prospects even as demand keeps rising in the global market," explained Wimol.
Catches of five major tuna species have idled at around 4.3-4.4 million tonnes in recent years due to declining stocks, noted Infofish.
Narin Niruttinanon, deputy general manager of Thai Union Manufacturing Co, thinks Thailand's tuna exports could continue to skid this year because the supply of raw material is limited.
Thai Union Frozen Products Plc (TUF) has noted that rising competition to secure imported raw materials has prompted the company to discount the possibility of major domestic expansion. The group requires 300,000 tonnes a year of tuna for local production, of which 80 per cent is sourced from the Pacific Ocean and the balance from the Indian Ocean.
"Countries with tuna in their territory encourage foreign companies to set up manufacturing facilities in their country to create employment, while access fees to catch tuna have risen from USD 200,000- USD 300,000 per ship per year to USD 1 million," said Narin.
Meanwhile, Greenpeace this week accused the tuna industry of continuing to push forward the decimation of fish stocks and called for an end to fishing methods that produce bycatch and urged “less boats, more fish” at the Infofish convention.
Five tuna species are already classed as "threatened" or "near threatened" with extinction due to overfishing, according to the Red List of Threatened Species.
“The tuna industry is on course to fishing itself out of existence. If we want healthy oceans and a viable tuna industry tomorrow, we simply need fewer boats on the water taking tuna,” said Sari Tolvanen, Greenpeace International oceans campaigner.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
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