Looking back at tuna exports in 2020
According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, in the first 11 months of 2020, Vietnam's tuna exports reached nearly 600 million USD, down 11% compared to the same period in 2019. In 2020, international markets had to suspend the trade activities in response to the pandemics. In some places, they applied the shutdown measures on restaurants, cafeterias, and crowded places. This has resulted in a decrease in consumption of tuna, especially fresh and frozen tuna products, in markets, the demand for long-preserved foods such as canned tuna in some markets roared.
This has a great impact on Vietnam's tuna exports. Vietnam's exports of fresh and frozen tuna contracted by 26% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, exports of processed and canned tuna products rose by 9%. This growth was mainly due to the growth in the export of canned tuna products.
Currently, Vietnamese tuna products have been exported to 106 markets around the world. Due to the impact of Covid-19, Vietnam's tuna exports to most major markets fell over the same period.
The US, EU, ASEAN, and Japan continued to be the four largest tuna importers of Vietnam. Tuna exports to the US and Southeast Asia tended to decrease over the same period in 2019 while exports to the EU and Japan climbed slightly over the same period. Notably, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU after a period of negative growth have reversed thanks to the impact of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Vietnam (EVFTA).
Besides, tuna exports to some other export markets have been showing positive growth, namely, Egypt and the Middle East. However, governments of the countries have taken measures to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic such as issuing a curfew at night, banning crowded gatherings, closing restaurants, leading to economic problems severely affected, the demand for food decreased. Moreover, Egypt has the policy to reduce imports and increase exports to narrow the trade deficit. There was a time when the Industry Committee of the Egyptian Parliament called for the government to suspend the import of frozen fish due to concerns about possible transmission of the coronavirus in this product.
In addition, the slow consumption in the market recently forced them to cut many new orders while the payback period was prolonged. This has made Vietnam's tuna exports to this market unstable and tended to slow down at the end of the year.
Market trends in 2021
At present, the disease situation of Covid-19 in the markets has not been controlled, moreover, there has been a risk of a rebound, so it is expected that the world tuna market cannot recover.
In the US market, the growth in re-importing Chinese cheap canned tuna products into the US is contributing to the competition in this market segment. Moreover, the demand for sustainable tuna products in the US has been tended to increase. Many major importers like Walmart, Bumble Bee, or Chicken of the Sea have made moves towards finding sustainable sources of tuna, such as making a commitment to supply 100% of Chunk light products certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)… This is expected to reduce the need to import conventional tuna products…
In the EU market, EVFTA will continue to be a driver for Vietnam's exports of tuna products, such as canned tuna, fresh and frozen tuna, to the EU market in 2021. However, frozen steamed tuna loin products (HS16), one of the key export products of Vietnam in the first months of the year, is expected to decline. Because these products from Vietnam to the EU have enjoyed tariff preferences as agreed in EVFTA, they are not exempt from tax to 0% according to the autonomous tariff rate quota (ATQ) when exporting to the EU. Meanwhile, in 2021, the EU Parliament increased the import quota for this product group according to the ATQ to 35,000 MT, which makes China's tuna export businesses benefit. Competition in this segment of the EU is expected to increase.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached US$1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. In September alone, exports totaled US$210 million, an increase of 16%. China, the United States, and Brazil were the three largest markets, accounting for 49% of total export value. While China and Brazil maintained their growth momentum, exports to the US remained below the level recorded in the same period last year.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
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