Lithuania is currently ranked 79th among the world’s largest economies and 36th in the list of wealthiest countries, with an annual GDP per capita of approximately USD 23,723, equivalent to USD 66.45 billion. Each year, Lithuania spends about USD 650 million on seafood imports.
According to ITC statistics, Lithuania is the 12th largest seafood importer in the EU, accounting for 1.2% of the EU’s total seafood import value. In 2022, Vietnam was the 6th largest seafood supplier to Lithuania from outside the EU, accounting for 3.54% of Lithuania’s total seafood import value.
Data from Vietnam Customs show that Vietnam’s tuna export value to this market surged from USD 229 thousand in 2021 to nearly USD 16 million in 2024—an increase of 69 times. In the first five months of 2025 alone, tuna export turnover to Lithuania doubled year-on-year, reaching over USD 8 million.
Frozen tuna meat/loin products (HS code 0304) are the main exports to this market, accounting for 98% of total tuna export value.
Lithuania has been a member of the European Union since 2004. Within the cooperation framework between Vietnam and the EU, legal mechanisms have been established to support economic, trade, and investment collaboration between Vietnam and EU member states. Notably, on June 11–12, 2025, the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, and his spouse visited Hanoi—marking the first high-level state visit by a Lithuanian head of state to Vietnam in many years. This visit was a highly significant diplomatic event, reflecting the two countries’ commitment to their traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation, while also opening a new chapter in bilateral relations amid a rapidly changing global context filled with both opportunities and challenges.
In addition, at the seminar titled “75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Central and Eastern European countries: strengthening relationship, enhancing cooperation, looking to the future,” Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha outlined five key tasks to elevate Vietnam–CEE relations to a new level. Among them is the need to boost economic cooperation and leverage the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to achieve an annual trade growth rate of 10%.
As such, the current expansion of tuna exports to Lithuania by Vietnamese enterprises is on the right track and holds significant potential for growth in the near future. However, to fully realize this potential, businesses are still awaiting the Government’s swift resolution of issues related to Decree 37/2024/NĐ-CP, which provides guidelines for implementing the 2017 Fisheries Law—particularly concerning minimum harvesting sizes and regulations prohibiting mixing of catches. Timely issuance of an amended Decree 37/2024/NĐ-CP would help address difficulties faced by enterprises and fishermen, thus unlocking domestic tuna supply and creating favorable conditions for exporters to take advantage of preferential terms under various Free Trade Agreements (FTAs).
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to CPTPP markets reached $264 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year and accounting for 17% of the nation’s total pangasius export turnover. In August alone, export value reached $34 million, inching up 3%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Golden pompano is being selected as a high-value species for the development of high-tech marine aquaculture in Lam Dong Province. In 2026, the provincial Agricultural Extension Center launched a golden pompano farming model using circular HDPE cages in Lien Huong Commune, opening opportunities to apply technology to marine farming at a scale suited to local coastal conditions.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam–Russia relations are entering a new phase of cooperation, with a focus on expanding trade, investment and economic connectivity. Against this backdrop, tuna is emerging as one of the seafood products with significant growth potential in the Russian market. Export data for the first seven months of 2026 show strong growth in Vietnamese tuna exports to Russia. However, turning this momentum into sustainable market share will require businesses to address challenges related to logistics, payment and supply competition.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese tilapia is moving into a higher-value segment as brackish-water farmed fish from the Mekong Delta is now being processed for sashimi and exported regularly to Japan.
(seafoo.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau Province is stepping up efforts to protect aquatic resources and promote transparent and sustainable fisheries, joining the country’s efforts to have the European Commission (EC) remove its “yellow card” warning for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
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