There are 15 countries in the Middle East that are currently importing tuna from Vietnam, of which Israel and Egypt are the two largest importers. Notably in the Middle East market, Israel and Saudi Arabia are the 4th and 5th largest tuna importers in this period.
In 2022, after the double shock of the Covid-19 epidemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the inflation rate in Middle Eastern countries increased, especially Israel. Besides, transportation costs and increased tuna prices have reduced the demand for tuna imports to this market, especially in Israel. However, exports to Saudi Arabia are on a strong upward trend this year, with a continuous growth of 3-4 digits over the same period.
Vietnam's tuna exports to this market block in the first 8 months of 2022 increased by 40%, reaching nearly $66 million
Currently, Middle Eastern countries mainly import frozen tuna meat/loin products with HS code 0304, accounting for 50% of the total value of tuna exports to this market, followed by canned tuna accounting for 28% and tuna. Other processing with HS16 code accounted for 22%.
In 2021, there are 31 enterprises participating in exporting tuna to this market. In which, companies belonging to Hai Vuong Group, Tithico, Tan Phat Food and Bidifisco are the companies that export the most to this market segment.
In the Middle East market, Vietnam is the third largest tuna supplier after Thailand and Indonesia. Thailand is the largest supplier, accounting for nearly 55%, followed by Indonesia 9%, Vietnam 7% and China 6%. It can be seen that Thailand's tuna supply is very far from the supply of Vietnam, while China is very close.
Currently, the price of tuna imported from Thailand tends to increase. To reduce dependence on supply from this country, many Middle East importers are turning to other tuna suppliers such as Indonesia, Vietnam or China.
|
Top 10 tuna suppliers to Middle East (outside the block) (thousand USD) |
|||
|
Suppiler |
2020 |
2021 |
Change (%) |
|
Thailand |
534,497 |
460,177 |
-13.9 |
|
Indonesia |
111,397 |
80,305 |
-27.9 |
|
Vietnam |
52,773 |
59,896 |
13.5 |
|
China |
42,748 |
53,418 |
25.0 |
|
Italy |
33,987 |
29,211 |
-14.1 |
|
Seychelles |
10,411 |
23,528 |
126.0 |
|
Spain |
17,938 |
20,072 |
11.9 |
|
Sri Lanka |
6,639 |
12,227 |
84.2 |
|
India |
10,164 |
10,875 |
7.0 |
|
Ghana |
24,105 |
7,647 |
-68.3 |
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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