A promising market
According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, tuna exports to the Middle Eastern market reached nearly USD 113 million in 2024, ranking fourth after the U.S., the EU, and CPTPP member countries. Vietnamese tuna products have penetrated almost all nations in this region, with Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt being the leading importers. Over the past year, tuna exports to key importing markets in the Middle East have all increased compared to the previous year.
Israel currently leads the region in importing Vietnamese tuna and is the second-largest single-country market after the U.S., accounting for nearly 7% of Vietnam’s total tuna export value in 2024, up 30% from 2023. Other countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have also recorded strong double-digit growth.
Vietnam’s signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the UAE—one of the region’s largest economic hubs and a key destination for Vietnamese seafood, including tuna—is creating further opportunities to boost exports. Currently, both Vietnam and the UAE are striving to complete the CEPA ratification process by Q1 2025. Once the agreement comes into effect, tariffs on Vietnamese tuna exports to the UAE will immediately be reduced to 0%.
Significant challenges
Despite its potential, seafood exports to the Middle East face several challenges, with the most notable being Halal certification requirements. Products must be processed and certified in accordance with Islamic law, necessitating significant investment from Vietnamese exporters in production processes, inspections, and quality management.
According to projections by various organizations and experts, the global Muslim population is expected to increase by approximately 50% by 2050, reaching 2.76 billion people. As a result, the global Halal industry is anticipated to grow substantially, driven by increased investment and technological advancements, such as pork detection technologies and Halal verification systems.
If Vietnamese products can meet Halal certification requirements in the UAE, this would serve as a key gateway to access broader Middle Eastern markets. Notably, Halal standards increasingly align with modern consumer trends, emphasizing high quality, ethical sourcing, environmental sustainability, and clear traceability.
However, a major challenge for the global Halal food industry lies in the lack of uniformity in certification procedures. The differing Halal certification processes across countries can create confusion and hinder Vietnamese businesses in their efforts to enter new markets. Furthermore, companies must ensure a clear understanding of the specific components that constitute Halal-compliant food to fully meet market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The United States remains one of the largest export markets for Vietnamese pangasius. In the first four months of 2026, pangasius exports to the US reached USD 106 million, up 4% compared to the same period in 2025. In April 2026 alone, export value totaled USD 38 million, marking a 20% year-on-year increase and the first positive growth recorded after an extended period of decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While Vietnam’s shrimp exports to many major markets continued to post positive growth in the first months of 2026, exports to the United States declined, highlighting growing competitive pressures and trade barriers facing the Vietnamese shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Egypt is emerging as one of the most promising destinations for Vietnamese tuna exports in 2026. During the first four months of the year, export turnover to this market exceeded USD 7.3 million, marking a sharp increase compared to the same period over the previous two years. As Egypt’s tuna imports continue to recover and demand for canned tuna remains strong, the market is becoming increasingly attractive for Vietnamese tuna processors and exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to CPTPP member countries reached nearly USD 128 million, accounting for 18% of the country’s total pangasius export value and increasing by 21% compared to the same period in 2025. Demand patterns varied significantly across the bloc: Mexico primarily imported fresh and frozen pangasius products, while Japan and Canada recorded substantial shares of processed products. Australia remained focused on frozen fillets but continued to maintain a portion of processed imports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Despite the slow recovery of the U.S. market and continued trade-related challenges facing Vietnam’s shrimp industry, Minh Phu Seafood Corporation (MPC) has set ambitious targets for 2026. The company aims to produce 68,800 metric tons of finished shrimp products, generate consolidated revenue of VND 19.9 trillion, and achieve VND 1.059 trillion in pre-tax profit. If achieved, these figures would represent the highest revenue and profit levels in the company’s history.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) HungHau Foods Joint Stock Company (HungHau Foods) has been honored at the 33rd Asia-Pacific Economic Forum, receiving two prestigious awards: “Top 10 Outstanding Asia-Pacific Enterprises 2026” and “Top 10 Outstanding Entrepreneurs” awarded to HungHau Foods CEO, Ms. Nguyen Yen.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a period of sluggish imports in 2025, the Chinese market has returned with strong shrimp purchasing momentum in the first months of 2026. However, alongside rising demand comes an increasingly stringent import control system, covering quarantine requirements, food safety standards, registration procedures, and traceability. This makes China a market that offers both significant opportunities and growing risks for Vietnamese shrimp exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Recently, in Long Xuyen City, An Giang Province, the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development (IPSARD) and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) organized a workshop to announce the results of the project “Food Loss Assessment in the Pangasius Value Chain in the Mekong River Region.” The project aims to provide scientific evidence to support the sustainable development of Vietnam’s pangasius industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp prices in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have recovered since early May, helping to improve farmers’ confidence and accelerate stocking activities for the 2026 farming season. However, farmers remain cautious due to rising input costs, unfavorable weather conditions, and disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 27, the Vietnam Trade Office in India, in collaboration with trade promotion agencies, industry associations, and businesses from both countries, organized the online seminar “Vietnam–India Seafood Trade Forum and Supply-Demand Connectivity 2026.” The event aimed to promote trade cooperation, investment, and seafood supply chain connectivity between Vietnam and India amid the ongoing restructuring of global markets.
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