According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, in January 2024, Vietnam's tuna exports reached more than 79 million USD, an increase of 58% over the same period in 2023, because January 2023 coincided with the Lunar New Year holiday. However, if compared from 2018 back to now, sales in January 2024 are still about 46% higher than the annual average; that is a positive signal for the opening month of the new year 2024.
Exports to all markets increased simultaneously
The top 10 main tuna export markets of Vietnam in January 2024 have changed, including the US, Israel, Russia, Canada, Japan, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Thailand, and Poland. Compared to the same period in 2023, exports to the remaining markets increased except for Thailand.
In the EU market, the reopening of preferential tariff quotas as agreed in the Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Vietnam (EVFTA) is creating momentum to boost export orders to this market in the first month of the year. Exports to most EU countries increased sharply. In particular, Italy continues to lead in import value in January 2024, with an increase of nearly five times over the same period. Along with Italy, exports to Poland and Sweden also increased dramatically.
In the Middle East market, although continuing to be affected by the war between Israel and the Islamic movement Hamas, exports to some markets in this region are increasing strongly. Specifically, exports to Israel increased 43%, Lebanon increased 13 times, and Egypt increased 43%. Currently, concerns about the increasing war are increasing the demand for food products that can be stored, such as canned tuna in these markets and promote imports.
Difficulties still pile up
Looking at the overall market and tuna industry in 2024, businesses said they are and will face many challenges and difficulties that will slow down the ability to recover production and exports.
Specifically, tensions in the Red Sea are causing many difficulties in the process of transporting export goods in general and seafood products in particular when shipping costs tend to increase. An increase in the selling price of the final product to consumers will greatly affect consumer demand. According to information from businesses, in the past month, the total freight payable for a container of goods transported to the West Coast has increased by 70%. Frozen goods exported to Europe have increased nearly four times. Tensions in the Red Sea also prolong transit time from Asia to Europe, cause difficulty in registering for charter ships, cause prolonged inventory, slow capital flow, high bank interest, etc. All these things will cause export businesses to face difficulties.
In addition, the "IUU yellow card" barrier when exporting to the EU market has not yet been removed, so businesses still encounter many difficulties when exporting to this market block.
It is expected that exports to other markets will continue to recover, but the growth rate will be slow.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the International Seafood Hosted Buyer Program has been designed as a dedicated B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers. The program provides opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood companies, gain market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A Story from Cà Mau’s Coast It’s 5 AM in Cà Mau. Minh, a third-generation fisherman, is ready to set sail. But unlike his father and grandfather, his boat no longer runs on an old diesel engine that burns fuel and clouds the sky with smoke. Instead, it’s powered by a hybrid engine that saves 40% fuel—funded by an ESG program from a major seafood exporter.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius industry is shifting its focus from increasing production volume to enhancing value-added products in order to meet the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets. In An Giang Province—the country's leading hub for pangasius farming and processing—businesses and farmers are prioritizing product quality, traceability, food safety, and sustainable development rather than expanding output.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following strong growth in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Sweden continued to edge higher during the first five months of 2026. However, the picture is far from straightforward. Orders have fluctuated significantly from month to month, indicating that this market remains cautious, with purchasing decisions closely tied to actual demand and the import cycles of Nordic distributors rather than to a steady upward trend.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports in the first five months of 2026 continued to surpass the same period in 2025, indicating that demand in the world’s largest seafood-consuming market remains strong. However, behind the growth figures lies an increasingly competitive landscape: Ecuador dominates the competitively priced whiteleg shrimp segment, India remains the second-largest supplier, while Vietnam stands out in the lobster segment but still needs to strengthen its advantages through quality, traceability, and reliable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
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