(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Canned tuna imports into EU countries from Vietnam in the first 8 months of 2019 reached more than US$21 million. This figure decreased by nearly 12% compared to the same period in 2018. Vietnamese canned tuna exports to EU countries have largely decreased over the same period in 2018.
Among all EU member states, Germany continued to be the main importer of Vietnamese canned tuna, accounting for 34% of Vietnam's total canned tuna exports to the EU.
Demand for canned tuna in Germany was not high, reflecting in the decline in German canned tuna imports. In 2019, import of canned tuna of Germany decreased by 25% compared to the same period in 2018. Currently, Vietnamese canned tuna exports to Germany is also decreasing.
Most of the canned tuna products imported into Germany in 2019 from the Philippines instead of from Ecuador like last year. Vietnam is currently the fourth largest supplier of canned tuna for this market.
Contrary to the trend of exports to Germany, Vietnamese canned tuna exports to the Netherlands increased sharply, up 74% over the same period in 2018. The Netherlands - the country has no tuna production industry but is a large transshipment country and is attractive destination for Vietnamese canned tuna. Currently, Dutch canned tuna imports are on the rise, the value of canned tuna imports rose by 5% over the same period in 2018. Ecuador was the main supplier of canned tuna for this market.
In addition to the Netherlands, Greece is also increasing imports of canned tuna from Vietnam. Vietnamese canned tuna exports are growing impressively, up 128% over the same period in 2018. Despite being a country with tuna production industry. However, domestic production scale of Greece was not enough to meet demand consumption. Therefore, Greece is increasing imports from other countries. Thailand was the largest supplier of tuna outside the EU for this market, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam.
Besides Greece, Vietnamese export of canned tuna to Finland in the first 8 months of this year was remarkable. The value of Vietnamese canned tuna exports to this market grew at a four-digit level, up nearly 1,873%, bringing the country from 16th to 6th place, reaching more than US$1.4 million.