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) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(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 - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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