Vietnam tuna exports reach over $90 million in a single month after more than two years

According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports in October reached nearly $93 million, marking a 22% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In the first ten months of 2024, the total export value exceeded $821 million, up 18% compared to the same period last year.

This marks the first time in 25 months that the monthly export value of tuna has surpassed $90 million. If this growth continues, Vietnam’s tuna exports could reach a total of approximately $1 billion by the end of 2024, reflecting an 18% increase.

Exports of various tuna product groups from Vietnam also saw growth compared to the previous year. Notably, exports of frozen tuna meat/loins under HS code 0304 have experienced rapid growth in the latter months of this year.

In terms of markets, tuna exports to major destinations generally increased in October, except for the EU and South Korea.

The exhaustion of preferential tariff quotas and difficulties in complying with regulations related to combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing have hindered tuna exports to the EU in recent months. Exports to the EU fell by 15% in October. However, strong growth in the earlier months of the year has resulted in a total increase of 17% for the first ten months of 2024.

On the other hand, tuna exports to the U.S. market, which slowed in the third quarter, have shown signs of acceleration in the final months of the year. Increased demand for seafood during the holiday season, coupled with the effects of the U.S. presidential election, has boosted the demand for tuna imports. Exports to the U.S. rose by 30% in October.

Alongside the U.S., the Middle Eastern market has also ramped up imports of Vietnamese tuna. Export values to the region have experienced strong growth. Notable increases include exports to Israel (up by 55%), Egypt (up by 70%), and Saudi Arabia (up by 72%) in the first ten months of 2024. Despite the impact of political conflicts in some countries, such as Israel and Iran, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has provided a significant boost for tuna exports to the region.

A particularly noteworthy development in October was the recovery of tuna exports to Japan. The export value to Japan increased by nearly 31% compared to the same period last year. Japan’s economic outlook has improved significantly after months of stagnation. Additionally, the strengthening of the Japanese yen since September has boosted demand for seafood imports, including tuna.

(Source: https://seafood.vasep.com.vn/)