According to statistics from the Vietnam Customs, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported that Vietnam's tuna exports in December 2024 reached nearly USD 86 million, an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2023. The cumulative total for the year 2024 shows that tuna export revenue reached USD 989 million, an increase of 17% compared to 2023.

Over the past year, Vietnam's tuna product groups' exports all increased compared to the previous year. Frozen tuna loin products continue to represent the highest proportion. Exports of this product category rebounded in 2024 and and tended to increase rapidly in the last months of the year.

However, exports of canned tuna products tended to decrease in the second half of the year. Cumulatively for the whole year of 2024, canned tuna exports increased by 17%. Notably, exports of other processed tuna products, after experiencing a continuous decrease in the early months of the year, had steadily increased in the final months, a growth of 24% compared to the same period last year, accounting for 17% of the total export turnover.

Regarding export markets, as of the end of 2024, tuna exports to major markets remained at a higher level than in 2023. However, export growth tended to be unstable in the second half of the year.

According to VASEP, in recent years, tuna has consistently accounted for the largest share of the total seafood export turnover, and it is the third most valuable category in Vietnam’s total seafood exports, following shrimp and pangasius fish.

Over the course of five years (2019–2023), Vietnam's tuna exports had increased from USD 719 million in 2019 to USD 845 million in 2023, an increase of 17%. The average annual growth rate of tuna export value during this period reached 3%. The primary species of tuna exported by Vietnam include yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, and striped tuna.

Vietnam's tuna products have been exported to over 100 markets worldwide. Among these, the United States, the European Union, the Middle East, and the CPTPP countries represent the four largest consumers of Vietnam's tuna, accounting for 82-86% of the total export value of Vietnam's tuna.

VASEP's outlook for Vietnamese tuna exports in 2025 suggests a positive growth trajectory, driven by increasing global demand for tuna products. The industry's ability to adapt to market trends and enhance production standards may further bolster its competitiveness, ensuring sustained success in the international market.

Kylie Nguyen