As of July, Vietnam's export value of frozen tuna meat/loin products still decreased, while exports of processed and canned tuna products increased again.
The decline in major markets is getting smaller
According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, in July, tuna exports reached US$76 million, down 11% over the same period last year. This is the lowest decrease in the first 7 months of 2023. Currently, tuna exports to main markets such as the US, Japan or Canada continue to decline, while exports to the EU continue to prosper.
In the US market, tuna exports have not shown any signs of recovery. The value of tuna exports to this market in July still decreased by 26% over the same period, reaching US$29 million. Following the same trend, tuna exports to Japan and Canada also continued to decline in July, with a decrease of 20% and 38% respectively. However, this is the lowest decrease of all three markets since the beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, tuna exports to the EU continued to recover, gradually making up for the decline in the first months of the year
Meanwhile, tuna exports to the EU continued to recover, gradually making up for the decline in the first months of the year. Exports to the EU in July increased by 28% over the same period. As a result, in the first 7 months of 2023, tuna exports to the EU increased by 5% over the same period in 2022, reaching $96 million.
Notably, Italy “returned” to the top 3 largest market of Vietnamese tuna in the EU. Tuna exports to Italy in July 2023 increased 10 times over the same period in 2022. Along with Italy, exports to Germany and the Netherlands are also increasing strongly in July by 43% and 96% respectively.
Outlook at the end of the year
According to statistics from the US Department of Commerce, retail sales in this market increased by 0.7% in July. US consumers spent more on food, with the fastest spending growth rate since from the beginning of the year. Therefore, businesses are expecting the US tuna market to recover by the end of the year.
Besides, the amount of inventory in the markets decreased, so tuna orders are likely to increase. Many holidays in the end of the year will also boost consumption, importers and restaurants tend to increase Therefore, not only tuna products, but many other seafood products are also prioritized to increase orders to store and serve fun and eating activities at the end of the year.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 49 million, up 151% compared to the same period in 2025. This impressive growth reflects positive momentum in the tilapia sector, with Brazil emerging as a key driver of growth, while frozen tilapia fillets continued to be the industry's leading export product.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK have shown positive signs in the first months of 2026. While the UK’s overall tuna imports from the world declined, imports from Vietnam increased strongly, indicating that there is still room for Vietnam to expand its market share. However, behind this growth, competitive pressure remains intense, especially as the UK continues to be a major market for established suppliers such as Ecuador, Mauritius, and Ghana.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Biofloc technology is being piloted in several rice–shrimp farming models in Ca Mau Province, showing initial positive results in controlling pond environments, improving shrimp seed quality, and supporting sustainable aquaculture development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2026, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia together contributed USD 108 million to Vietnam’s pangasius exports, accounting for around 15% of the industry’s total export turnover. Amid tightening global whitefish supply and slowing demand in several traditional markets, Latin America is increasingly becoming an important expansion destination for the sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Alongside the development of high-tech shrimp farming, Ha Tinh Province is accelerating the cultivation of high-value freshwater aquatic species, with red tilapia emerging as an effective and sustainable farming model.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 81 million in April 2026, down 6% compared to the same period in 2025. In the first four months of the year, export turnover totaled USD 289 million, down 4.8%. Although the overall export picture has yet to brighten significantly, market trends are becoming increasingly diversified rather than moving in a single direction.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is undergoing strong restructuring starting from the broodstock and fingerling segment in order to improve productivity, quality, and export competitiveness. This is considered a critical foundation for the sustainable development of the industry amid rising production costs and increasingly stringent market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, pangasius exports in April 2026 reached USD 206 million, up 18% compared to the same period in 2025 — marking another consecutive month of double-digit growth since the beginning of the year. Cumulative pangasius export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 720 million, up 17% year-on-year, reflecting the positive growth momentum of this key export product.
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