Several factors are increasing demand in the region such as the end of the conflict in Libya (a major tuna consumer market), the more health-conscious consumers in Saudi Arabia, and an increase in demand of the Egyptian people for an “affordable source of protein”.
Last year, like other markets when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in the first months of the year, panic buying of tuna products to stockpile in the Middle East occurred. However, after that, sales in this market stabilized again. Therefore, Vietnam's processed tuna exports to the Middle East in the first five months of 2021 are only equivalent to the same period in 2020, reaching $17.2 million. In contrast, the export of fresh and frozen tuna to this market increased sharply by 78%, reaching more than US$9.5 million.
Currently, Vietnam's tuna products have been exported to 12 countries in this market block. In which, Israel, Egypt and Libya are the three largest importers of Vietnamese tuna in this market. Compared to the same period in 2020, the countries with export growth are Israel (up 37%), Libya (up 16%), UAE (up 61%) and Bahrain (up 69%).
Israel, with the value of tuna imports from Vietnam in the first 5 months of 2021 reaching more than 15 million USD, is currently the third largest single tuna export market of Vietnam. After a continuous decline in the first 2 months of the year, Vietnam's tuna exports have increased again and the growth rate is increasing.
Meanwhile, Vietnam's tuna exports to Egypt decreased by 3%. The recovery of the Egyptian economy, with the local currency strengthening against the dollar, has also helped boost demand for tuna in the country. This has helped Vietnamese tuna exports to this market increase positively in the first 2 months of the year. However, since March, Vietnam's tuna exports to this market have decreased continuously. One of the reasons for this decline is that Egyptian importers used the excuse of difficulties and losses due to the epidemic situation to demand payment for goods in installments, putting pressure on prices to reduce... businesses are afraid to export to this market.
In Libya, the stability of the political situation and the Libyan economy has helped increase the demand for tuna. And this has impacted on Vietnam's tuna exports to this market. Although Vietnam's tuna exports to this market are still not stable, in the past 2 months, the export value has been increasing continuously.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the global food market is facing increasing volatility in logistics costs, energy prices, and supply chains. In the seafood sector, alongside ocean-caught products such as tuna, the surimi-based product group—including fish cakes, crab sticks, fish balls, and other imitation seafood products—has also been affected to some extent by these developments.
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