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
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As importing markets increasingly focus on biosecurity and traceability, Vietnam has established a relatively comprehensive legal framework and disease management system for aquaculture, covering tilapia farming as well as other cultured species. This system is based on the Law on Animal Health, regulations on the prevention and control of aquatic animal diseases, the National Plan for the Prevention and Control of Major Diseases in Farmed Aquatic Species, and environmental monitoring and early warning programs for aquaculture areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On July 9, 2026, the Embassy of Vietnam in Brazil organized the seminar titled “Sharing Information on Vietnam-Brazil Economic, Trade and Investment Relations in the First Half of 2026” to provide updates on bilateral cooperation and strengthen connections among government agencies, industry associations, and business communities of the two countries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in the first 6 months of the year continued to be a bright spot with a total turnover of 5.7 billion USD, an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. By commodity group, seafood is one of the three groups with a trade balance in the first 6 months of 2026 in a surplus state with 4.13 billion USD, an increase of 17%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) For many years, Vietnam’s seafood industry has been recognized as one of the country’s key export pillars. Products such as shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid, octopus, and a wide range of other seafood have reached hundreds of markets worldwide. Yet behind these impressive export figures lies a significant challenge: a substantial share of Vietnam’s seafood export value still comes from minimally processed products, contract manufacturing, and raw material exports—segments characterized by low profit margins and high vulnerability to fluctuations in global prices.
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