With this result, in the first 6 months of 2024, Vietnam tuna exports to South Korea reached more than 14 million USD, an increase of 144% over the same period. South Korea became one of the largest 10 single tuna markets of Vietnam.
According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, in the first six months of this year, 15 Vietnam enterprises were participating in exporting tuna to this market. Leading ones are NHA TRANG BAY, YUEH CHYANG CANNED FOOD, and TRINITY VIETNAM, which account for 86% of total export turnover in the first half of 2024.
With a population of over 51 million people, South Korea is currently a potential market for Vietnamese tuna exporters, with a high growth trend since last year.
The Vietnam-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) took effect in December 2015, creating a foundation to promote economic, trade, and investment cooperation between the two countries to develop more strongly and effectively. The two countries are participating in the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), and South Korea is considering joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), of which Vietnam is a member.
Currently, South Korea mainly imports processed and canned tuna from Vietnam, accounting for 99% of total export turnover, of which, South Korea mainly imports frozen steamed skipjack tuna loin/meat.
The change in seafood consumption trends in Korea following the trend of reduced consumer spending is an opportunity for Vietnamese seafood to boost exports of seafood products at suitable prices.
Like Japan, exports to Korea have the advantage of a close geographical location, stable consumption demand, and are the destination of many businesses in the coming time in the context of inflation, which is causing a sharp decrease in consumption in Western markets.
While the Red Sea tension has caused shipping rates to the US and Europe to skyrocket, closer markets, such as Korea, are also of interest to many businesses.
Notably, while Korea has reduced tuna imports from other countries, it has increased imports from Vietnam.
(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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