Specifically, Vietnam's tuna export value accumulated in the first 3 months of the year reached over 259 million USD, up 72% over the same period in 2021, and 1.6 times higher than the same period in 2019 - before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Export orders of high-value frozen tuna meat/fillets with HS code HS0304 in the first three months of this year tended to increase sharply, up 123% over the same period last year, reaching $184 million. Notably, the share of the export value of this product group increased from 55% in the first quarter of 2021 to 72% in the first quarter of this year. The export of other processed tuna products, mainly frozen steamed tuna loin, also increased by 37% over the same period. Meanwhile, the export of canned tuna products observed a downward trend.
As demand was recovering, Vietnam's tuna exports to main markets continued to grow in March.
US By the end of March 2022, the total value of Vietnam's tuna exports to the US reached nearly 137 million USD, up 116% over the same period last year, in which, the export value in March 2022 reached nearly 57 million USD, up 84%. As such, the US continues to be the largest tuna export market in Vietnam. However, tuna production in the EPO region is low, which makes the supply of tuna from the Americas like Ecuador decrease. Therefore the US will increase imports from countries in other regions like Thailand or Vietnam. Therefore, it is forecasted that exports to the US market will continue to increase in the first half of this year.
EU
Tariff incentives from the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU (EVFTA) continue to promote Vietnamese tuna products to this market in March 2022. However, the escalating freight rates are affecting exports to this market, as most shipments are exported at CFR prices. The growth rate of tuna exports to this market block is slowing down, at 10% in March 2022, with export value increasing by 14 million USD. The total export value to this market in the first three months of the year reached nearly $38 million, up 33% over the same period in 2021.
CPTPP
In contrast to the EU, tuna exports to the market bloc participating in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) tend to accelerate. Export value to the CPTPP market in March 2022 increased by 49%, reaching nearly 14 million USD. Accumulated in the first 3 months of the year, the export value reached 30.4 million USD, up 40% over the same period. The export value to Canada reached 14 million USD, up 70%; to Mexico reached 4.3 million USD, up 79%; to Chile reached 2.4 million USD, up 71%. However, exports to Japan continued to decline by 20% y-o-y, reaching 6 million USD.
In addition to the above main export markets, the value of tuna exports to other potential markets such as the UAE, the Dominican Republic, and Panama also grew well over the same period last year.
Tuna exports are expected to continue to grow in the coming months. However, exports are facing a shortage of raw materials, high prices of raw tuna, increased sea freight... Therefore, businesses are still heavily affected despite the higher y-o-y growth. All in all, this recovery is just the beginning.
Compiled by Minh Trang
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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