The U.S.
As of Sep 2016, the U.S. retained as the largest importer of Vietnam tuna, accounting for 40.8% of Vietnam tuna exports, with the value of US$144.5 million, up 2.2% year on year. This year, demand for canned tuna in the U.S. was on the downward trend despite a slump in global tuna price. Currently, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia were top 3 largest suppliers of tuna to the market, in which, shipments from Thailand took up 25.5-28% of the U.S imports. In spite of the year-on-year decreases of 7.3-20.6% in the first 2 quarters of this year, Vietnam tuna exports to the U.S. rebounded from May 2016, and expected to rise sharply in the last quarter.
EU
The EU stayed as the 2nd biggest buyer of Vietnam's tuna. In Jan-Sep 2016, sales to the region reached US$73.9 million, down 3.3% compared the same period of 2015. In particular, out of top 3 largest markets in the bloc, exports to Italy and Belgium registered the climbs of 116.3% and 23.5%, respectively, while those to Germany posted a fall of 41.2% year on year.
ASEAN, Israel and China
Through Sep 2016, Vietnam tuna exports to 3 potential markets, including ASEAN, Israel and China remained quite stable. Exports to Thailand picked up almost 7% of total tuna exports, up 24.3% over the same period last year. Thailand was both a tuna importer and a supplier of Vietnam.
According to the ITC, in the first half of 2016, total tuna imports into Israel hit over US$37 million, of which, imports from Thailand reached US$10.8 million, those from the Philippines was over US$8 million, and those from Vietnam touched US$7 million. Israel is a potential market, Vietnam tuna exporters continue to boost exports of processed tuna (HS code 4160414) to the market.
Through Sep 2016, Vietnam tuna exports to China gained US$15 million, up 56.3% over the same period last year. In the coming time, China remains as a potential market of Vietnam. Besides, exports to Canada and Mexico also expected to go up in the last quarter of the year.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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