Among EU countries, Portugal is also an important tuna market, known for its high per capita fish consumption, with a strong preference for canned tuna and fresh/ frozen tuna. Portugal’s canned tuna industry dates back to the 19th century, with Vila Real de Santo António being a key destination for the development of both the fishing and canning sectors.
Portugal’s tuna processing industry relies heavily on imported skipjack and yellowfin tuna loins for processing. Consequently, the country imports sustainable quantities of frozen tuna meat/ loins (HS0304) and frozen steamed tuna loins (HS16) from various countries, including VietNam. According to Vietnam Customs data, these two product groups dominate Vietnam’s exports to Portugal, with frozen steamed tuna loins accounting for over 81% of export value in 2024.
In the Portuguese market, Vietnam is the second-largest non-EU tuna supplier after Ecuador in the first three months of 2025. Portugal’s tuna imports from Ecuador and Vietnam are increasing, while imports from China are declining.
Since the US-China trade war, China has increased its tuna exports to the EU, intensifying competition in this market. However, Vietnam’s tuna products have gained a competitive edge since 2024, reflected in the continuous growth of export turnover.
Strengthened trade cooperation between Vietnam and Portugal, coupled with maximized benefits from the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), has fueled Vietnam’s tuna exports to Portugal.
However, businesses warn that sustaining this growth is challenging. The domestic tuna raw material supply, already insufficient, is becoming scarcer due to regulatory issues and obstacles in certification and verification processes, which are hindering export growth.
