Vietnam's tuna export industry achieved encouraging results in 2024, marking a strong recovery and opening up promising development prospects.

With an expected export turnover of 1 billion USD, an increase of 18% compared to 2023, tuna continues to affirm its position as one of Vietnam's key seafood products in the international market.

2024 is a year that marks a strong transformation of Vietnam's tuna export industry, not only in terms of turnover but also in market and product diversification. Photo: Ngo Nguyen

Export turnover growth impressive

Sharing with PV Lao Dong, a representative of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers - VASEP said that as of October 2024, the total export turnover of tuna reached more than 821 million USD, an increase of 18% over the same period last year. In October alone, the export value reached nearly 93 million USD, an increase of 22% over the same period in 2023.

This result reflects the recovery of the industry after the pandemic, and also shows that the demand for tuna consumption worldwide is increasing significantly.

Traditional markets such as the US and EU continue to play an important role, while some emerging markets also recorded impressive growth. Vietnamese tuna products, especially canned tuna, are highly competitive in countries such as Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.

The trend of tuna consumption in the world is increasing, especially processed and canned products. Vietnam has been quick to seize this opportunity, with canned tuna exports increasing by 51% in the first four months of 2024. Vietnam's processed products are highly regarded for their guaranteed quality and compliance with international standards.

In the face of changing global consumption trends, processed tuna products, especially canned tuna, are increasingly popular due to their convenience, long shelf life, and nutritional needs. The new focus on processed and canned tuna has become an important driving force for Vietnam's tuna export industry to achieve impressive growth. VASEP said that this growth was driven by high demand for processed and canned tuna products. These are also the two products with the largest export value of Vietnam.

Many support policies

To promote tuna exports - one of Vietnam's strategic seafood products, the Government has been implementing many practical support policies. These policies not only aim to enhance the competitiveness of Vietnamese tuna products in the international market but also ensure the sustainable development of the industry.

In recent times, our country has focused on negotiating and signing free trade agreements such as EVFTA, RCEP and other FTAs, creating favorable conditions for tuna exports to major markets... The signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has opened up great opportunities to penetrate the Middle East market.

Tuna exporting enterprises are also given priority to access preferential credit capital to invest in equipment, processing and preservation technology, and support to improve production processes. This is especially important in the context of high input costs and unstable raw material supply. The Ministry of Industry and Trade coordinates with relevant agencies to implement a national trade promotion program, helping businesses promote tuna products at international fairs and connect directly with potential partners.

With strong growth momentum, the Vietnamese tuna industry expects to continue to achieve great success in 2025. However, to maintain sustainable development, the industry needs to focus on reasonable exploitation and compliance with international standards on marine environmental protection. At the same time, market expansion, product diversification and quality improvement are still key factors to maintain its position in the international market.

Source: Kinh Te Nong Thon Newspaper