AsemconnectVietnam - The year 2025 ended with several notable shifts in Vietnam's tuna export landscape. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, tuna export revenue reached US$924 million, a 7% decrease compared to 2024.

The decline in tuna export revenue showed a clear differentiation by market and product group: the US – the largest market – experienced a significant decrease, while the EU and CPTPP saw increases.
Tuna exports to the US and EU showed contrasting trends
Tuna exports to the US in 2025 were estimated to reach only US$331 million, accounting for nearly 36% of Vietnam's total export revenue, but a decrease of nearly 15% compared to the same period last year.
The US remained the largest export market, but exports to this market have been volatile over the past year, especially with increasingly fierce competition in the processed goods sector. From a product structure perspective, the exports of canned tuna to the US remained at a similar level compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, exports of frozen tuna meat/loin (HS code 0304) decreased significantly.
In contrast to the US, Vietnam's exports to the EU increased last year. The export turnover to this market reached nearly $207 million, a 5% increase compared to 2024. Within this market bloc, the Netherlands was leading with a total import value of tuna from Vietnam exceeding $46 million, a 37% increase compared to 2024. This was followed by Italy with a 10% increase and Germany with a 13% increase. The overall context in Europe is also creating opportunities for suppliers with stable delivery capabilities and meeting standards. The EU market reports showed that tuna remained an important species for consumers, and recent periods have seen imports maintained at high levels.
Along with the EU, tuna exports to Canada and Japan were also higher than in 2024. The exports to these two markets also experienced significant fluctuations last year.
Tuna exports to the Middle East fluctuated sharply.
In 2025, tuna exports to the Middle East were estimated to decrease by 16% compared to 2024, reaching just over $94 million. Israel remained the leading market in this bloc. However, geopolitical instability in the country last year caused tuna exports to this market to fall sharply by 40%.
Although Vietnamese tuna businesses have shifted to expanding exports to some markets in the region such as Egypt and the UAE, this was still not enough to compensate for the decline in exports to Israel.
Global tuna market trends and forecast for 2026
The tuna market in 2026 will continue to be affected by lower catch supply in some fishing grounds and fluctuating raw material prices (especially skipjack tuna prices) trending upwards, while demand is uneven across markets.
Entering 2026, the market is likely to continue to be dominated by three main trends. First, fluctuating supply and raw material prices will continue to put pressure on profit margins, especially for processed and canned tuna products. Second, the EU is expected to maintain its role as a support base, especially with suppliers that consistently meet traceability, quality, and sustainability standards, particularly in the context of increasing tariff and non-tariff barriers in the US. Thirdly, competition is differentiated by "standards" and "prices." Importers prioritize partners with consistent delivery capabilities, good compliance records, and optimized costs in a context where purchasing power is not yet fully stable.
Currently, obstacles regarding regulations on the minimum size allowed for harvesting skipjack tuna have been removed, and the domestic supply of raw materials will be more promising. However, the US imposing higher retaliatory tariffs on Vietnamese products compared to competitors, and not recognizing the equivalence of Vietnam's tuna fishing industry, will hinder exports to this market.
Therefore, the country’s exports of tuna to the US in 2026 will not be promising. Businesses will be forced to shift to newer, more promising markets such as the EU, the Middle East, and ASEAN.
CK
Source: VITIC/congthuong.vn