March Exports Rebound but Remain Lower Year-on-Year
According to Vietnam Customs, tuna exports in March 2026 reached nearly USD 80 million, a sharp increase from USD 53 million in February, but still down 11% compared to March 2025. Overall, in Q1 2026, tuna exports totaled USD 208 million, down 4% year-on-year.
This trend indicates a month-on-month recovery, but demand in many key markets remains unstable. In terms of product structure, tuna under HS03 continued to dominate with USD 119 million, up slightly by 1%. Notably, canned tuna also increased marginally by 1%, while other processed tuna products dropped sharply by 34%. Meanwhile, fresh/frozen/dried tuna (excluding HS0304) declined significantly by 43%.
U.S. Remains the Largest Market but Sees Decline
The United States remained Vietnam’s largest tuna import market, with export value reaching USD 74 million in Q1 2026, accounting for nearly 36% of total exports. However, exports to the U.S. fell by 12% compared to the same period last year. Similarly, exports to the EU declined by 8%, totaling over USD 47 million. Within the bloc, exports to the Netherlands dropped by 11%, while Germany recorded a slight increase of 8%.
These developments show that demand in traditional markets remains sluggish, putting pressure on Vietnam’s tuna exports in the early months of the year.
Middle East, Russia, and Egypt Emerge as Bright Spots
In contrast, several markets recorded strong growth. Exports to Russia reached nearly USD 14 million, up 44%; Israel nearly USD 10 million, up 33%; Egypt USD 6 million, up 65%; Mexico USD 5 million, up 26%; and the Philippines USD 5 million, up 13%. Notably, exports to the Middle East reached nearly USD 22 million in Q1, up 11% year-on-year.
These markets are helping offset part of the decline in the U.S. and EU.
Export Outlook: Continued Market Divergence
In the short term, Vietnam’s tuna exports may continue to recover following the upward trend seen in March, particularly in markets with strong growth such as Russia, the Middle East, Israel, Egypt, Mexico, and some CPTPP countries. The CPTPP bloc recorded nearly USD 31 million in Q1, up 9%, indicating its potential to partly compensate for declines in the U.S. and EU.
However, growth prospects will vary across product segments. Canned tuna and processed products are expected to maintain better momentum compared to raw or frozen products. Key challenges remain, including compliance requirements in the U.S., increasingly stringent sustainability standards in the EU, price competition in ASEAN, and volatility in global raw material supply.
In the coming months, Vietnam’s tuna exports are likely to continue experiencing divergence across markets. While the U.S. and EU may not recover quickly, the Middle East, Russia, North Africa, and niche markets could remain key growth drivers. If businesses capitalize on demand for canned and convenient tuna products while expanding into alternative markets, exports could gradually improve in Q2 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports in the first four months of 2026 maintained positive growth momentum, reaching approximately USD 1.5 billion, up 15% compared to the same period last year. However, behind this result lies diverging trends across markets, as the global shrimp industry continues to face pressure from inflation, high inventories, price competition, and increasing trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Vinh Tuy commune (Kien Giang Province), many shrimp farmers are adopting bottom aeration systems and reporting clear economic benefits, helping increase income and reduce production risks.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached more than USD 93 million, up 23% compared to the same period last year. The result shows that the sector is experiencing a fairly positive recovery, especially in its two key product groups: crabs and swimming crabs. However, behind the growth figures are several concerns: export markets remain highly concentrated, raw material supply is unstable, and trade barriers from the US and EU are becoming increasingly stringent.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Ca Mau province, many farmers are transitioning from traditional methods to high-tech shrimp farming, adopting recirculating systems with minimal water exchange to improve efficiency and reduce risks. In Hung My commune alone, there are about 260 super-intensive shrimp farming households covering more than 265 hectares, playing a key role in local economic development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
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