In August, tuna exports reached more than USD 87 million, a decrease of 5% over the same period, but is the highest value since the beginning of the year, according to VASEP.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), tuna exports to main markets in August had many fluctuations. The highlight is the growth of the US market after a period of constant decline. Data show that fish exports to this market increased by 2% in August thanks to a 24% increase in canned tuna. However, due to the limited increase, accumulated over eight months, exports to this market still decreased by 45% over the same period, reaching nearly USD 208 million.

Tuna exports to the EU also continued to accelerate with an increase of 37%. In particular, exports to the Italian market increased by 45 times. In Germany and the Netherlands, export value is still increasing, but the rate is slowing down.

In smaller-scale markets such as Thailand and the Philippines, Vietnamese tuna also has good growth.

On the contrary, the Israeli market, after a period of good results, fell sharply by 57% during the month. The CPTPP market has not seen much improvement, in which exports to Japan, Canada and Mexico all fell sharply by 53%, 49% and 14% respectively.

Cumulatively in the first 8 months of this year, tuna exports reached USD 545 million, a decrease of 25% over the same period.

VASEP assesses that to date, Vietnam's tuna exports are gradually narrowing the decrease compared to the same period last year. However, the possibility of recovery in key markets such as the US, Japan or Canada to the level of the same period last year is very unlikely.

However, according to information businesses, the market is gradually recovering. Falling world raw tuna prices are boosting importers' demand in the year-end period. Therefore, it is likely that tuna exports in the coming months will return to levels similar to the same period in 2022.

Kylie Nguyen