AsemconnectVietnam - Vietnam's tuna exports continued to grow in August of 2026, though the pace was modest at just 2%.

The month saw mixed trends across markets: the US remained the key market, Japan and Canada showed improvement, and the exports to Russia surged, while shipments to the EU continued to decline sharply. These developments indicate that businesses are entering the final months of the year facing a market characterized by greater volatility.
The US remained the decisive market
In August of 2026, Vietnam exported nearly $90 million worth of tuna, a 2% increase year-on-year. While this figure remained virtually flat compared to July, there were distinct differences in performance across various markets.
The US remained the top market, with exports reaching $35 million, up by 23% year-on-year, despite an 8% drop compared to July. In the first eight months of the year, the exports to the US totaled $248 million, an increase of 8%.
This growth reinforced the US's position as the industry's most important driver. However, the outlook for the final months of the year is increasingly uncertain, as a 12.5% supplementary US tariff on Vietnamese goods began affecting new orders in late July. Importers will need to recalculate purchase prices, while exporters face pressure to absorb a portion of the tariff costs to retain customers.
This will serve as a true test of Vietnamese tuna's ability to maintain order volumes in the US market. The full impact may not yet be reflected in the August data due to the time lag between contract signing, shipment, and customs clearance.
Russia continued to be a bright spot
While the US remained a cornerstone market, Russia is emerging as a market with impressive growth momentum. In the first eight months of the year, tuna exports to Russia reached US$38 million, a 56% increase. This represented one of the highest growth rates among Vietnam's major markets. However, in August, tuna exports to this market declined slightly by 6% compared to the same period last year.
Source: VITIC/vasep.com.vn