Vietnamese tuna exporters lack raw material, hindering exports to Germany

According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, tuna exports to Germany reached only nearly USD 11 million during this period, down 33%. Of this, exports of processed and canned tuna accounted for over 68% of the total export value, while the remainder mainly consisted of frozen tuna meat/loin.

During this time, exports of frozen tuna meat/loin to Germany rose by as much as 81%, but exports of processed and canned tuna plunged by 48%. Tuna exporters attribute this decline to a shortage of domestically sourced skipjack tuna, which has left them unable to meet orders from this market. Although Vietnamese companies can use imported raw materials from EU countries to qualify for tariff preferences under origin rules, doing so raises production costs and weakens the competitiveness of Vietnamese products.

Currently, Germany remains one of the largest importers of tuna in Europe, especially processed and canned products. Data from EUMOFA shows that German consumers are increasingly prioritizing convenient, high-protein seafood products with sustainability certifications such as MSC.

According to Eurostat data, Germany’s tuna imports in the early months of 2025 have shown a slight decline compared to the same period last year. This drop is attributed to German consumers tightening their spending amid ongoing economic volatility, including inflation and rising living costs — all of which are dampening consumption demand. As such, pricing remains a key factor in enhancing the competitiveness of tuna products in the German market.

Faced with rising reciprocal tariffs from the US, many Vietnamese tuna exporters are seeking to expand their exports to other markets such as the EU and Asia to reduce reliance on the US and mitigate risks. However, to do so, businesses are calling on the Government to urgently “unlock” access to domestic raw tuna supplies and resolve bottlenecks in the issuance of fishing-related documentation.