Tiếng ViệtTuna export from Vietnam – In order to effectively and sustainably manage ocean tuna resources, while promoting responsible and regional integration in the fishing industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is soliciting opinions from relevant ministries, sectors, and related entities on the draft “Vietnam Ocean Tuna Fishing Management Plan until 2030.”
According to data from a survey of major tuna sources in Vietnam’s seas conducted by the Institute of Marine Research, the estimated tuna export from Vietnam’s seas is over 600,000 tons, with the majority concentrated in the central region of Vietnam and the central part of the East Sea (South China Sea). Yellowfin tuna is the primary species harvested, accounting for more than 50% of the total tuna resources.
The Export Turnover has Exceeded 1 Billion USD
In Vietnam, the annual tuna catch (including yellowfin tuna, bigeye tuna, skipjack tuna, and other species) amounts to over 200,000 tons. Specifically, yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna alone have an average stock of over 45,000 tons, with annual catches ranging from 17,000 to 21,000 tons.
In recent years, tuna has consistently held the largest share in the total export turnover of seafood and is the third most valuable product category in Vietnam’s total seafood export revenue.
Tuna export from Vietnam, products have been exported to more than 100 markets worldwide, with the United States, the European Union, the Middle East, and countries under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) being the top four largest consumers of Vietnamese tuna, accounting for 82-86% of Vietnam’s total tuna export turnover.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has reported that Vietnam’s tuna export turnover in 2022 reached a record high of 1.02 billion USD, marking a 34% increase compared to 2021 and a 57.2% increase compared to 2020. Key exported products include tuna fillets, processed tuna, canned tuna, fresh tuna, frozen tuna, and dried tuna.
Facing Difficulties Right from The Beginning of 2023
In the first two months of 2023, Vietnam’s tuna exports saw a significant decline compared to the same period the previous year. Notably, the United States, despite being Vietnam’s largest tuna export market, experienced a 63% decrease, while the European Union (EU) also recorded a sharp drop of 42%, causing the EU to slip to the third position among the most significant tuna import markets for Vietnam.
Tuna export from Vietnam. The tuna industry is not only facing challenges in the export market but also encountering difficulties with documentation during the procurement, processing, and export phases. Specifically, on March 15, 2023, VASEP issued Circular 22/CV-VASEP, addressing certain obstacles and issues related to the issuance of Material Confirmation (S/C) and Health Certificate (H/C) for seafood production and export to the EU.
The circular highlights that many companies are purchasing yellowfin tuna but are not obtaining S/C. According to the explanations provided by the Port Management Boards, small-sized fish are recognized as yellowfin tuna, whereas larger fish are not classified as yellowfin, and thus, they are not eligible for S/C issuance. However, VASEP has not found any specific regulations defining the differentiation or categorization of yellowfin tuna based on size.
Furthermore, due to the robust implementation of anti-IUU (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated) fishing measures to remove the EU’s “yellow card,” some Port Management Boards are not issuing S/C based on the actual quantity of seafood purchased by businesses but rather on a reduced quantity. In fact, some ports have ceased to issue S/C for raw materials from vessels engaged in long-term fishing (over 1 month).
In addition, VASEP also mentions that some companies are encountering obstacles in obtaining H/C for batches of raw materials sourced from long-term fishing vessels. According to Document No. 67/TTCL4-CL from the Quality Control Center for Agriculture, Forestry, and Aquatic Products (NAFIQAD 4) sent to the Directorate of Fisheries, NAFIQAD 4 expressed concerns that the time from the start of fishing to unloading raw materials upon the vessel’s arrival at the port (ranging from 3 to 5 months) may not ensure food safety. There is also a discrepancy between the time stated on the S/C and that in the fishing log.
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