Value chains, which involve fishing, processing and consumption of tuna, have helped Vietnamese tuna products gain competitive edge in more than 200 markets worldwide, according to insiders.
Close linkage between fishermen and businesses
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Fisheries, thanks to a project to develop tuna value chain implemented by the ministry in the past five years, the tuna fishing and processing industry has enjoyed impressive achievements.
During 2014-2018, annual tuna output grew by an average 6 percent while tuna export increased by an average 7 percent each year. In the first nine months of 2019, Vietnam shipped over 550 million USD worth of tuna to foreign markets, a year-on-year increase of 16 percent.
Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Fisheries Nguyen Quang Hung said that the country has 25 ports serving tuna fishing vessels and 60 firms processing tuna for exports.
The tuna fishing fleet numbers nearly 48,000 offshore vessels, catching around 170,000 tonnes of tuna each year, or four times higher than the amount recorded in 2014, he added.
Besides making heavy investment in storage facilities, processors and exporters have paid due attention to increasing added value of the fish and promote export of processed tunas like tuna canned in oil, pouched tuna, and tuna fillet.
Vice Director of Binh Dinh province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Tran Van Phuc laid stress on the significance of the close coordination among fishermen, purchasers, processors and exporters, saying it contributes greatly to the success of tuna sector.
Currently, the country has nine tuna value chains, four of which are in Binh Dinh province, two in Phu Yen and three in Khanh Hoa, he said, adding tuna fishermen are equipped with Japanese fishing tools.
Huge potential for tuna export
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said the US and Europe have the largest demands for tuna. A survey by US-based firm Tri Marine, which is now owned by Italy’s Bolton Group showed that canned tuna, which is a key export item of Vietnam, is favoured over other tuna products in the US market.
This trend in the taste of foreign consumers is favourable for Vietnamese exporters.
However, as the world market is certain to fluctuate, Hung suggested the Government and competent ministries, sectors and branches to arrange resources to upgrade specialised fishing ports and developed tuna logistics services so that the tuna industry can maintain its momentum.
In addition, he said research institutes and universities should enhance scientific research and transfer fishing, processing and preserving technologies to fishermen and firms to improve tuna quality./.
VNA
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(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 - 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