The Russia-Ukrain conflict has caused price increase not only in energy commodities to, but also in food commodities in countries. This situation is creating the opportunities for Vietnamese seafood in general, and tuna in particular, to increase exports to other markets.
The US
By the end of June 2022, the total value of tuna exports to the US market reached more than 300 million USD, an increase of 96% compared to the same period in 2021. Vietnam's tuna exports continued to maintain a high growth rate in June. In the first 6 months of 2022, tuna catches in the East Pacific (EPO) were low, which affected the catches of the US fishing fleet. Besides, high inflation has pushed up the demand for canned tuna. All of this has boosted US tuna imports from sources, including Vietnam.
The EU
Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU have continuously declined in the past 3 months. Tuna export turnover to the market in June decreased by 25% compared to June 2021, reaching nearly 9.5 million USD, bringing the total export turnover in the first 6 months to 77 million USD, up 4% over the same period.
According to a report released by the European Union's (EU) data statistics agency Eurostat on July 1st, consumer prices of 19 countries in the eurozone rose 8.6% in June (consumption in this region a month ago was 8.1%). In which, the group of food items increased by 8.9%, showing that inflation is spreading in the eurozone. Despite recorded inflation, the European Central Bank (ECB) has not been able to raise interest rates as quickly as the US. This delay caused the euro to depreciate against the US dollar.
The price of tuna products increases due to higher costs of necessary goods, a strong dollar may cause the final tuna products imported into the EU from countries outside the bloc such as Vietnam, Philippines, Ecuador,.. to be more expensive. This has affected tuna imports of EU countries.
CPTPP
Tuna exports to Canada, Japan and Mexico continued to grow positively. By the end of June 2022, CPTPP is the third largest export market block of Vietnamese tuna exporters (after the US and EU). The demand for tuna imports from CPTPP countries reached US$68 million, up 50% over the same period last year. Of which, exports to Canada increased by 68%, to Japan by 26% and to Mexico by 30%. Particularly for Chile, export turnover to this market, after slowing down in May, showed signs of decreasing in June, down 48%.
In addition to the three major export markets above, in the first 6 months of 2022, tuna exports to Saudi Arabia, Thailand, the Philippines or Russia still grew well. Total export value of tuna to Saudi Arabia reached 1.2 million USD, to Thailand increased by 59%; Philippines up 86%...
At the beginning of this year, due to an increase in oil prices, 40-45% of fishing vessels nationwide had to lie on shore. This has greatly affected the supply of raw tuna for factories, especially the supply of raw materials of wholly obtained (ie, domestic origin). Therefore, tuna processing and exporting enterprises must import from countries and territories that do not have a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam. This has made Vietnam's tuna exports unable to take advantage of the FTA to increase their competitiveness compared to other rivals.
It is forecasted that tuna exports in the second half of 2022 will continue to grow positively, but the growth rate will slow down. Tuna export turnover in 2022 is expected to reach about 1.1 billion USD, up 45% compared to 2021.
Compiled by My Hanh
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in the first half of 2026, but the performance was increasingly uneven across products, markets and enterprises. VASEP’s newly released premium report provides the detailed data and analysis needed to understand what lies behind the headline figures and prepare for the more challenging months ahead.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Brazil remains one of the key markets for Vietnamese pangasius in South America. However, exports to the market showed signs of slowing in the first half of 2026, while frozen pangasius fillets continued to account for the overwhelming majority of exports.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Marking 27 years of supporting Vietnam’s seafood industry, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (VIETFISH 2026) will officially return from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, on its largest scale ever. Under the core theme “Innovation – Sustainability,” the event promises to provide a comprehensive picture of the transformation of Vietnam’s seafood industry toward greater value addition and sustainable development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than three weeks remaining, the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability," Vietfish 2026 will provide a comprehensive networking platform for seafood businesses, buyers, distributors, industry experts, government agencies, and domestic and international visitors.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the technical seminar “Green and Sustainable Technology Solutions for the Aquaculture and Seafood Processing Value Chain” will take place from 09:30 to 11:45 on August 20, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. The seminar is jointly organized by VASEP, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance, and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Vietnam, focusing on technological innovation and sustainable transformation across Vietnam’s seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
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
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn