Opportunities for boosting tuna exports to the UAE

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was signed after just over a year of negotiations. With a strong demand for premium seafood in the UAE, especially shrimp and fish products, Vietnam’s tuna industry is expected to gain new export opportunities and enhance product value through the benefits offered by CEPA.

According to data from Vietnam Customs, the export value of Vietnamese tuna to the UAE rose from $1.6 million in 2019 to nearly $4 million in 2023, marking a 139% increase over five years. Vietnam is currently one of the three largest tuna suppliers to this market. However, as of 2024, tuna exports to the UAE have seen fluctuations, with figures remaining roughly stable year-over-year by the end of September 2024. The UAE primarily imports frozen tuna fillet and loin products from Vietnam under HS code 0304, along with a smaller amount of canned tuna.

Currently, imported tuna products in the UAE face a 5% tariff. Vietnamese businesses hope the UAE market will become more accessible if the Vietnam-UAE FTA takes effect, potentially reducing seafood import taxes to 0%, which would enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese tuna products. Apart from tariffs, a key challenge for Vietnamese exporters is meeting UAE importers’ requirements for Halal certification.

As the top economy in the Arab world and ranked 17th out of 61 globally for competitiveness, the UAE has a per capita seafood consumption higher than the global average. With agriculture contributing less than 1% to its economy, the UAE imports nearly 90% of its seafood, positioning it as a strategic partner for Vietnam’s tuna industry as it aims to expand globally.

(Source: https://vietfishmagazine.com/)