According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, the export of Vietnamese tuna to the Netherlands from January to May 2019 grew well over the same period in 2018, except for February due to the long Tet holiday, export value reached aproximately from US$1.2 to US$3.2 million/month. Total of the first 5 months of 2019, export value of Vietnamese tuna to the Netherlands increased by nearly 60% compared to the same period in 2018, reaching more than US$12 million. In particular, products mainly exported to this market were the group of fresh and frozen tuna accounting for 89%. Compared to the same period in 2018, export value of frozen tuna fillets/loin (such as frozen yellowfin tuna loin, frozen yellowfin tuna slice ...) increased the most by 63%, reaching US$10.4 million.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands is importing a wide range of processed canned tuna products HS16 from other countries. According to statistics of the International Trade Center, the Netherlands imported nearly US$62 million of these products in the first quarter of 2019, accounting for nearly 85% of the country's total import value of tuna. Followed by the products of frozen tuna loin/fillets HS code 0304, accounting for 13% at US$9.3 million. Compared to the same period in 2018, the import of processed canned tuna HS16 of the Netherlands tended to dropped, while imports of fresh/live/ frozen tuna rose.
In 2018, Vietnam was only the 6th largest supplier of tuna for this market. Currently, Vietnam is the 3rd largest supplier of non-EU tuna for the Dutch market. At the same time, Vietnam is the top suppliers of live/fresh/frozen tuna for this market.
With the advantage of FTA, Ecuador continues to dominate the Dutch tuna market. Ecuador currently accounts for 23% of the total import value of tuna into the Netherlands. Similarly, thanks to the signing of the tuna fishing agreement with the EU, Mauritius, the second largest supplier of the Netherlands, occupies a large proportion of this market share. Mauritius accounts for 16% of total Dutch tuna import value lately. Yet, compared to the first quarter of 2019, Ecuador's market share of tuna tends to went down, while those of Mauritius and Vietnam rose.
Signing of the Free Trade Agreement with the EU is the driving force for Vietnam's tuna exported to this market. Under the EVFTA commitment, the EU will abolish tariffs on live/ fresh and frozen tuna products (except for frozen tuna loin/fillets HS code 0304) as soon as the agreement comes into effect. For products of frozen tuna fillets/loin HS code030487, the EU will eliminate tariffs for Vietnam under a 3-year schedule, from the basic tax rate of 18% as soon as the agreement comes into effect. With this advantage, the products of frozen tuna fillets/loin HS code 030487 will continue to maintain its position in this market.
Moreover, the Netherlands is currently the EU transit center. So, storing goods prices at the Rotterdam port is probably cheaper than that of Hamburg and transporting to Germany's largest market in the Ruhr is more closer, the amount of imports into the Netherlands is increasing. Therefore, it is forecasted that in the coming time, Vietnam's tuna exports to the Netherlands will continue to be positive.
(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.com.vn) Changing markets, shifting buyer demand, and increasingly complex trade barriers are raising a key question for Vietnam’s seafood industry: Where will the new growth opportunities lie in 2027–2029?
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