In August 2026, Vietnam’s tuna exports reached nearly USD 90 million, edging up just 2% year-on-year. Against a backdrop of divergence across export destinations, the United States maintained its leading anchor role, while Russia sustained rapid growth and the EU market remained under downward pressure.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam’s tuna export turnover in August 2026 remained virtually flat compared to the preceding month, indicating that growth momentum is showing signs of cooling down. However, performances across core export destinations diverged markedly.

The United States continued to serve as the largest market for Vietnamese tuna. In August, shipments to this destination reached approximately USD 35 million, up 23% compared to August 2025, despite declining roughly 8% from July.

Cumulatively over the first eight months of 2026, tuna exports to the US totaled USD 248 million, a 8% increase year-on-year. Given this scale, the US continues to play the most decisive role in driving Vietnam’s tuna export growth.

However, the outlook for the closing months of the year is viewed as increasingly unpredictable as an additional 12.5% US tariff on Vietnamese goods began affecting new purchase orders starting in late July.

Tariff costs risk placing supplemental pressure on both importers and exporters. Importers may need to renegotiate purchase prices, while Vietnamese enterprises face the challenge of balancing cost structures to retain purchase orders and defend competitive footing in this market.

According to VASEP, the full impact of the tariff policy may not be completely reflected in August export figures due to standard transmission lags between contract execution, cargo transit, and customs clearance completion. Performance over subsequent months will therefore provide a clearer basis to evaluate the true scope of disruption to tuna shipments entering the US.

Russia emerges with a 56% surge

While the US retains its anchor role, Russia is emerging as one of the standout high-growth destinations for Vietnamese tuna.

Through eight months, tuna export turnover to Russia reached approximately USD 38 million, soaring 56% compared to the same period in 2025. This ranks among the highest growth rates recorded across Vietnam’s major consumer markets.

Notably, this robust cumulative expansion unfolded even as August shipments to Russia contracted roughly 6% year-on-year. This indicates that growth velocity in the Russian market warrants continued monitoring through the final months of the year.

Russia is evaluated as a market with ample headroom for Vietnamese tuna lines, spanning canned tuna, frozen tuna, and value-added convenience preparations. Local seafood demand creates additional opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises to diversify outbound channels.

Concurrently, ongoing bilateral efforts between Vietnam and Russia to bolster commercial relations are expected to establish more favorable conditions for cross-border trade, improve supply chain predictability, and unlock long-term partnership opportunities.

The Vietnam–Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) also serves as a vital trade framework underpinning Vietnamese goods entering the bloc, including the Russian market.

Export markets continue to diverge

Alongside the US and Russia, several other markets also registered encouraging trends. Japan and Canada demonstrated improvements, helping unlock alternative commercial headroom for Vietnamese tuna while select traditional markets encounter strain.

Conversely, tuna exports to the EU continued their steep contraction, signaling that recovery across the bloc remains uneven and continues to pose a challenge requiring close corporate attention.

These divergent trends highlight a distinctly polarized landscape for Vietnam’s tuna exports in 2026. Growth is no longer uniform across geographic regions, while shifting trade policies and rising import costs across key destinations could directly impact order volumes and corporate operating margins.

With the US remaining the dominant pillar, tariff policy developments over the coming months will represent a critical variable shaping Vietnam's tuna export trajectory. In parallel, growth rates in Russia, Japan, and Canada will serve as vital indicators as enterprises actively broaden and reallocate their global distribution footprint.

Source: Tap chi Doanh nghiep va Hoi nhap