According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, tuna export turnover in the first three months of 2025 reached over USD 228 million, an increase of 6% compared to the same period in 2024. However, exports to major markets are showing signs of slowing growth.
The U.S. Remains the Top Export Market
As of the end of March 2025, Vietnamese tuna products were exported to more than 75 markets worldwide. The top five importers of Vietnamese tuna were the United States, the EU, Russia, Canada, and Thailand.
In the first quarter of 2025, exports to the U.S. accounted for 39% of Vietnam’s total tuna export value. However, exports to this market in March showed signs of deceleration, increasing by just under 9% year-on-year. This slowdown was partly influenced by the preliminary notification from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which stated that Vietnam's seafood industry is not yet recognized as equivalent. If Vietnam fails to meet NOAA’s requirements by the deadline, its seafood could be banned from the U.S. starting January 1, 2026. Additionally, concerns over potential tariff increases on Vietnamese products have made U.S. importers more cautious, leading to reduced order volumes.
Similarly, tuna exports to the EU also experienced a slowdown in March. Exports to EU member countries showed fluctuations. The Netherlands led the bloc with over USD 13 million in imports, a surge of 82% year-on-year. In contrast, exports to Italy were more volatile, totaling over USD 9 million—a 2% decrease compared to the same period last year. Exports to Germany also declined by 9% in March.
Bright Spots in Tuna Exports: Canada, Japan, and Russia
In the first quarter of 2025, Canada, Japan, and Russia emerged as bright spots in Vietnam’s tuna export landscape. After a sharp decline in January, exports to these markets rebounded strongly over the next two months—especially to Russia. In March alone, tuna exports to Russia increased by 92% year-on-year. This sustained growth has made Russia Vietnam’s third-largest single export market for tuna, following the U.S. and the Netherlands.
Enterprises Need to Restructure Export Markets
The temporary 90-day suspension of the retaliatory tariff by the U.S. has had an immediate positive impact on Vietnam’s tuna export sector, with order volumes starting to rise again. However, while this delay brings short-term opportunities, tuna exporters—and the seafood industry at large—must remain cautious. The suspension does not mean the tariffs are permanently lifted. There is no guarantee that the U.S. will remove or reduce these tariffs in the future. Any shift in U.S. trade policy could create significant shocks to the market.
Therefore, exporters are advised to accelerate shipments currently in transit or being prepared for export to the final destination within the next 90 days, to minimize the risk of facing higher tariffs. At the same time, businesses should proactively diversify and expand into other potential markets such as the Middle East and Asia to reduce overdependence on the U.S. market.
