Canned tuna exports plunge by 50%
According to data from Vietnam Customs, the export value of canned tuna in April 2025 reached only USD 15.8 million—a 50% drop compared to April 2024. This is one of the lowest monthly values recorded since January 2023.
Industry insiders attribute this sharp decline to major regulatory challenges, particularly those outlined in Decree 37/2024/NĐ-CP. These include strict rules on the minimum size of fish allowed to be caught, and a prohibition on mixing domestically sourced wild-caught seafood with imported wild-caught seafood in the same export batch. These regulations have significantly affected both tuna fishing and export operations, especially for canned tuna.
In contrast, other categories of tuna products posted growth in April. Most notably, processed tuna products under HS code 16—mainly frozen steamed tuna loins—rose by 62% year-on-year. Frozen tuna fillets/loins also recorded a 15% increase.
Exports to several key markets saw mixed trends in April 2025.
In the U.S. market, following the country’s temporary 90-day suspension of a proposed 46% retaliatory tariff on imports from Vietnam, Vietnamese exporters attempted to take advantage of the window to boost shipments. However, exports to the U.S. have started to slow, reaching nearly USD 36 million in April—up just 3% year-on-year.
Similarly, tuna exports to the EU also showed signs of slowing. The export value to this bloc rose by 11% year-on-year, totaling nearly USD 21 million in April. The Netherlands, Italy, and Germany remain the top three importers of Vietnamese tuna in the EU. While exports to the Netherlands and Italy continued to grow, shipments to Germany declined compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, geopolitical instability in the Middle East is having a significant impact on Vietnam’s tuna exports to this region. Exports to Israel dropped sharply by 57% in April. Cumulatively, exports to Israel in the first four months of 2025 were down nearly 62% year-on-year. Exports to Saudi Arabia also declined by 35%.
After two months of strong growth, exports to Canada reversed course in April, falling to just under USD 3 million—a 27% decline compared to April 2024.
With domestic raw material bottlenecks still unresolved, and ongoing geopolitical tensions and policy changes in key markets, Vietnam’s tuna exports are likely to face an even steeper decline in the coming months.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
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