According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, in April, Vietnam’s tuna exports reached just over $86 million, a decrease of nearly 1% compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, the export turnover of canned tuna in April reached only $15.8 million, a 50% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. This is the lowest level since January 2023.
According to many enterprises, the obstacles related to the regulations in Decree 37/2024/ND-CP are greatly affecting tuna fishing and export activities, especially for canned tuna exports.
These regulations include provisions on the minimum allowable size for exploitation and the prohibition of mixing imported seafood raw materials with domestically caught seafood raw materials in the same export batch.
Tuna export value from January 2023 to April 2025. Source: VASEP.
Exports to some major markets in April also showed a downward trend.
In the US market, after the country temporarily suspended the imposition of a 46% “countervailing duty” on imports from Vietnam for 90 days, Vietnamese enterprises took advantage of this opportunity to boost exports to this market. However, by this point, export activities are slowing down. Exports to this market in April reached only $36 million, a 3% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Similarly, exports to the EU market are also slowing down, with export turnover to this market in April increasing by only 11% year-on-year to $21 million. The Netherlands, Italy, and Germany remain the top three importers of Vietnamese tuna.
Canned tuna exports declined sharply in the first four months. Illustrative image: IT.
In the Middle East region, geopolitical instability is significantly impacting tuna exports to this market. Specifically, exports to Israel continued to decline sharply by 57% in April. Cumulatively, in the first four months of the year, exports to this market decreased by nearly 62% over the same period. Exports to Saudi Arabia were not optimistic, either, with a decrease of 35%.
Exports to Canada also reversed the growth trend in April, after two months of high growth. Exports to this market reached only $3 million in April, a 27% decrease compared to the same period.
Ms. Nguyen Ha, a tuna market expert at VASEP, forecasts: “With the constraints on domestic raw material sources yet to be resolved, coupled with the impact of geopolitical instability and changes in trade policies in many major markets… Vietnam’s tuna exports are likely to decline further.”
According to VASEP’s report on the production and export situation of the seafood industry sent to the Task Force for Administrative Reform of the Prime Minister, tuna exports in the first four months showed a decreasing trend compared to the same period last year due to pressure from regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The regulation on a minimum tuna size of 0.5 meters has reduced the raw material sources for processing and export.
Additionally, changes in the tariff policy of the US, the largest market for Vietnamese tuna, pose challenges to the tuna industry.
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