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) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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