Tuna exports to France rebound in 2025
After a sharp decline in 2024, Vietnam’s tuna exports to France grew strongly in the first half of 2025. Export value reached over USD 1.5 million, up 108% compared to the same period in 2024. According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), France was the 3rd largest tuna importer in the EU in 2024, with a preference for convenient, safe, and sustainably certified products.
Key products include frozen tuna fillets/loins and canned tuna. Among them, Vietnam’s frozen tuna fillet/loin exports recorded a remarkable surge compared to the same period in 2024, with steady shipments to this market in the first six months.
Market trends in 2025
In 2024, France imported about 107,000 tons of tuna, mainly canned products, making it one of the largest tuna-consuming countries in Europe. Average per capita tuna consumption in France is 1.3 kg/year—about half of Malta (3.4 kg/person) but still among the highest in the EU. Demand for canned tuna in France continues to grow thanks to trends toward quick, protein-rich, and healthy meals, particularly driven by brands such as Petit Navire, Saupiquet, and Rio Mare—many of which offer MSC-certified products.
Supply competition
The French tuna market is witnessing intense competition among suppliers. Within the EU, Spain and Portugal dominate as major suppliers of processed products (canned tuna and frozen fillets), benefiting from large-scale processing capacity, short logistics chains, and well-established brands on supermarket shelves.
Among non-EU suppliers, Ecuador remains the leading source, thanks to its powerful fishing fleet and preferential tariffs for exports to the EU, which give its canned tuna products a strong price advantage.
Other suppliers such as Seychelles, Côte d’Ivoire, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have also been stepping up exports to France in recent years. Vietnam stands out particularly in frozen fillet/loin products and some value-added processed tuna items.
Outlook
In 2025, Vietnamese exporters could further boost exports if they maximize tariff preferences while aligning with Europe’s green standards and sustainable consumption trends. However, to achieve this, the government needs to address challenges related to domestic raw material supply and bottlenecks in the issuance of catch certificates, among others, to better support exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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