According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, a rise in Vietnam’s tuna exports in the first 7 months of this year was driven by an increase in exports of frozen tuna loins/fillets and other processed tuna. The export value of frozen tuna loins/fillets in this period climbed by 8% over the same period last year while that of other processed tuna increased by 65%.
The U.S
Vietnam's tuna exports to the U.S in July 2018 continued to decline. The export value in the first seven months of the year reached US$118 million, down 8% over the same period in 2017. This made the proportion of tuna exports to the U.S market decreases.
Meanwhile, exports of other processed tuna of Vietnam to the U.S this year increased sharply at the 3-digit.
This year imports of canned tuna products into the U.S increased sharply. These tuna species are of lower quality and cheaper which are creating unfair competition.
The EU
In July, Vietnam’s tuna exports to EU increased by 19%. The figure in the first 7 months increased by 22% to reach US$84 million.
After the recovery in June, Vietnam's tuna exports to Germany, Vietnam's largest tuna importing market in the EU fell by 18%. Meanwhile, exports to Italy and Spain recorded the high growth.
Exports of frozen tuna loins/fillets and other processed tuna of Vietnam to the EU increased, while those of canned tuna and other fresh/live/frozen tuna products declined. Notably, exports of other processed tuna products of Vietnam to this market increased dramatically by 305%.
Demand for canned tuna in the EU has been low since the beginning of the year. And in recent months, tuna production was low and supplies to the main producing regions such as Manta, Ecuador and Bangkok, Thailand dropped. Therefore, tuna prices inched up in the first month of the year, and this has affected the demand in the EU market.
Israel
Continuously from the beginning of 2018, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel increased continuously. Vietnam's tuna exports to this market continued to increase by 44% compared to July 2017, the figure in Jan-Jul 2018 estimated at nearly US$45 million, an increase of nearly 62% over the same period of 2017.
In the context of demand for canned/processed tuna in large markets such as the EU and U.S being low, Israel expected to be a potential market for these products of Vietnam. Vietnam's processed/canned tuna exports to this market showed the good results.
In Israel's canned/processed tuna segment, Thailand continues to be the biggest supplier, followed by Vietnam. Meanwhile, in the Israel's frozen tuna segment, Vietnam stayed as the leading supplier and had almost no competitors.
ASEAN
As Israel, Vietnam’s tuna exports to ASEAN also increased continuously. In the first seven months of 2018, Vietnam's tuna exports to this market amounted to nearly US$28 million, an increase of 62% over the same period in 2017. Thailand was the largest tuna importer of Vietnam, accounting for 73% of total tuna export value of Vietnam to ASEAN.
With export results in the first 7 months of this year, Vietnamese exporters are successfully moving to Asian markets.
Tuna consumption in the U.S and the EU is predicted to remain low in 2018 while Israel and ASEAN expected to be the potential alternative markets of Vietnam in the coming time.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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