According to data from Vietnam Customs, the value of Vietnam's tuna exports to the UAE has steadily grown after a decline in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, tuna export value to the UAE increased from $1.6 million in 2019 to nearly $4 million in 2023, reflecting a 139% rise over five years. Currently, Vietnam is one of the UAE’s top three tuna suppliers. However, in 2024, tuna exports to the UAE have shown a fluctuating trend, with periods of both increases and decreases. As of the end of September 2024, tuna exports to the UAE were nearly on par with the same period in 2023.
The UAE mainly imports frozen tuna meat/loins from Vietnam under HS code 0304, as well as a smaller quantity of canned tuna products. Currently, imported tuna products face a 5% import tariff. Vietnamese exporters are optimistic that once the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the UAE comes into effect, seafood import tariffs will drop to 0%, increasing the competitiveness of Vietnamese tuna products in the UAE market.
Beyond tariffs, one of the biggest challenges for exporters to the UAE is meeting the strict Halal certification requirements. Products must not contain any ingredients prohibited by Islamic law, must not come into contact with any materials or equipment that are forbidden in Islamic law during production, and must not be mixed with any ingredients that are not Halal-compliant. Vietnamese companies are actively working to address these concerns to ensure full compliance.
Currently, the UAE is an economic leader in the Arab world, ranking 17th out of 61 economies for competitiveness globally. The country’s per capita seafood consumption is higher than the global average, while agriculture accounts for less than 1% of its GDP. As a result, about 90% of the UAE’s seafood consumption is met through imports. Furthermore, the UAE’s economy is considered one of the most stable in the world.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts that the UAE’s GDP will grow by 4% in 2024 and reach 5.1% in 2025. In contrast, the Middle East and Central Asia regions are projected to grow at only 2.4% and 3.9%, respectively, during these years. UAE stands out due to its strong non-oil economy and effective public policy.
Given these factors, the UAE is well-positioned to become a key trading partner for Vietnam’s tuna industry, offering significant growth potential in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a range of synchronized solutions, from institutional improvements and strengthened communication to strict fleet control, Quang Ninh is stepping up efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, determined to join the country in soon having the European Commission’s (EC) “yellow card” lifted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 closed with a remarkable milestone for Vietnam’s shrimp industry. According to Vietnam Customs, the country’s total shrimp export turnover in 2025 reached USD 4.6 billion, up 19% compared to 2024 and the highest level ever recorded.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the 2026–2030 period, Quang Tri province aims to convert 771 fishing vessels currently engaged in activities detrimental to marine resources and the ecological environment to more environmentally friendly fishing practices or shift entirely to other economic sectors.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2025 recorded a breakthrough growth in Vietnam’s tilapia exports, in which the U.S market emerging as the primary growth driver. The total export turnover of Vietnamese tilapia to the United States reached $53.15 million during the year, surging 173% year-on-year and accounting for 54% of Vietnam’s total tilapia export value, thereby making the U.S the largest import market for this commodity. Compared to 2024, tilapia exports to the U.S posted robust growth, reflecting the import demand as well as the ability of Vietnamese enterprises to capitalize on market opportunities amidst volatile global competitive dynamics.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After two consecutive years of decline, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports rebounded in 2025. Export turnover of this product group exceeded USD 344 million, up 15% year-on-year compared with 2024 and 13% higher than 2023, although still below the peak level recorded in 2022.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of 2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry had left a strong mark with export turnover reaching nearly $11.3 billion, up 12.4% year-on-year. This robust performance reflects not only a rebound in global consumption demand but also the agile adaptation of domestic firms in navigating increasingly stringent trade barriers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the 2025 review and 2026 outlook conference held by the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance on the afternoon of January 7, Vietnam’s seafood sector has set a total production target of over 10 million tons in 2026, representing a 0.6% increase year-on-year. Of this total, capture fisheries are projected at around 3.75 million tons (down 2.1%), while aquaculture output is expected to reach 6.25 million tonnes (up 2.2%) compared with 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Food JSC (Fimex, Ticker: FMC) has announced its 2025 business results, reporting revenue of over $300 million (approximately 7.8 trillion VND), representing a 19.8% increase year-on-year; projected profit is expected to reach approximately 420 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s fisheries sector concluded 2025 with landmark achievements: export turnover reached a record high, despite heightened volatility in global trade and increasingly stringent barriers from major markets, most notably the United States. Amid a mix of opportunities and challenges, the fisheries sector also witnessed important policy shifts. Together, these developments form a multifaceted picture of an industry proactively adapting and restructuring toward a trajectory of sustainable development.
(seafoos.vasep.com.vn) According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long, the province’s shrimp farming area reached 69,800 hectares in 2025, including 7,500 hectares under high-tech farming models, 18,820 tons of black tiger shrimp and 293,000 tons of whiteleg shrimp.
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