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.
