Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain shift sharply toward processed segments

Export orders surged in Q3

Monthly tuna exports to Spain throughout the first 11 months of 2025 did not follow a steady upward trend, but instead spiked sharply at certain points - notably surging by 84% in September and an unprecedented 534% in November. In contrast, export values in several other months fell sharply.

This growth was underpinned by the robust performance of processed tuna product group under HS16, primarily driven by frozen steamed tuna loins, which rose by 16% compared with the same period last year. Conversely, exports of canned tuna to this market plummeted, recording a sharp 57% decline.

Intensifying competition in Spain’s frozen steamed tuna loin segment

Spain is one of the world’s largest seafood markets, characterized by a structural deficit: high domestic demand coupled with insufficient local production, making imports a cornerstone of the industry.

As a major processing hub, competition in Spain is particularly intense within the frozen steamed tuna loin/fillet segment, which supply both canning factories and private-label systems. Supply-chain analysis of Spain’s canned tuna industry relies heavily on non-EU sources for raw materials. Specifically, tuna loins imports are dominated by Ecuador, China and Papua New Guinea, while canned tuna imports are concentrated from Ecuador, Mauritius and El Salvador. Viet Nam currently holds only a modest market share, primarily due to a shortage of raw materials meeting "wholly obtained" origin requirements.

In the current context, this competition has been further amplified by the EU’s tariff preference mechanisms. The Council of the European Union has approved the ATQ for the 2024-2026 period, allowing the EU processing sector to import raw tuna loins from non-EU countries at reduced or 0% duty rates. Consequently, the “race” to integrate into Spain’s supply chain is no longer determined solely by price and quality, but increasingly by the ability to meet raw material specifications, delivery schedules and tariff optimization.

Import trends: tightening budgets drive shift toward convenience

Cost-of-living pressures in Spain are also reshaping consumption patterns. According to the USDA’s 2024 Spain Seafood Report, around one-third of Spanish households have scaled back their fish and meat consumption in response to inflation. Consumers are increasingly seeking more affordable protein sources, favoring canned and frozen and high-convenience products in smaller portion sizes.

This shift has sustained a stable demand for tuna segments destined for processing, packing and private-label retail, while intensifying competitive pressure on the mass-market segment.

2026 outlook

Based on the performance metrics of 2025, the outlook for Vietnamese tuna in Spain for early 2026 points toward a modest growth trajectory. Exports of frozen steamed tuna loins are likely to increase, aligning perfectly with Spain’s role as a processing hub and the EU-wide preference for high-convenience products.

Furthermore, new EU regulations imposing stricter standards on onboard freezing for purse seiners intended for human consumption are likely to constrain the import of certain high-value frozen tuna products, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape.

By contrast, Vietnamese canned tuna exported directly to Spain is unlikely to achieve a rapid breakthrough, given intense competition from competitors with superior tariff advantages such as Ecuador and the Philippines, as well as robust intra-EU supply chains.

For Vietnamese enterprises, the most promising strategic sweet spot in Spain for the coming year will undoubtedly reside in loin, fillet and semi-processed tuna products.