Mixed signals from major markets
The U.S remains the leading market, accounting for 37% of total export value with $261 million but declined 5% year-on-year. In September alone, exports fell 17% compared to same month in 2024. The primary reason is U.S. importers front-loading purchases in early 2025 to avoid new retaliatory tariffs, resulting in high inventory levels and intensifying price competition.
In contrast, the EU maintained growth momentum, reaching $160 million (+3%). Some member states showed notable growth: Italy (+19%) and the Netherlands (+37%), while Germany dropped 24%. This indicates Vietnamese firms are gradually adapting to the EU’s sustainability standards and traceability standards.
The CPTPP recorded $96 million (+9%), driven by Japan (+15%) and Canada (+17%), reflecting the positive impact of tariff preferences within the agreement. However, Mexico and Chile saw slight declines.
Notably, Thailand - a major seafood processing hub - increased Vietnamese tuna imports by 83% to $28 million, underscoring Vietnam’s growing role in the regional supply chain for steamed tuna loins used in canned tuna production. Meanwhile, Egypt surged 146%, signaling emerging opportunities in the Middle East and Africa region.
Rising export product value
By product structure, fresh and frozen tuna (HS03) reached $383 million, representing 54% of total value, nearly unchanged from a year earlier. Within this, HS0304 - the flagship category - edged up 2%.
Conversely, processed and canned tuna (HS16) totaled $322 million, down 6%. Notably, canned tuna - accounting for nearly two-thirds of this segments - fell 9%, due to lower domestic raw material availability, increased imports, rising input prices and logistics costs, while selling prices failed to keep pace.
This growth pattern reflects a structural shift: firms are focusing more on high-value-added products such as loins, steak cuts and similar items.
Outlook
Globally, 2025 U.S and European tuna import demand is stabilizing but competition is intensifying. Importers prioritize MSC-certified, IUU-compliant and fully traceability standards. Meanwhile, Japan is increasing imports of frozen tuna for sashimi and premium products, creating opportunities for Vietnamese processors to upgrade processing lines.
Given the slight slowdown in Q3, Vietnam’s 2025 tuna exports are projected at $930 - 950 million, a modest decline from 2024. To sustain growth, enterprises must diversify market - expanding into the Middle East and Africa - while accelerating high-value and certified sustainable products to mitigate trade barrier risks and pricing pressures.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025). In parallel with the nation's progress in international economic integration, bilateral seafood trade has followed a remarkably impressive growth trajectory, expanding from an initial scale of just tens of millions of US dollars to nearly $2 billion annually. This growth has positioned the United States as Vietnam’s largest seafood export market for many consecutive years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.
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