The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said exports to the US had rebounded strongly in recent months after falling continuously during the first half of the year.
The US remained Vietnam's largest tuna export market, accounting for nearly 39 per cent of the country's total tuna export value.
Tuna is one of Vietnam's major seafood exports (Photo: Nam Binh).
The growth came despite a decline in overall US tuna imports during the first eight months of the year. This suggests Vietnamese tuna is becoming more competitive and exporters are taking advantage of opportunities in the US market, even as overall import demand has yet to recover fully.
By product category, frozen tuna meat continued to drive growth, while canned tuna exports recorded only a modest increase.
The trend reflects differences in demand between raw materials used for processing and finished products for consumer markets.
VASEP said that, amid forecasts of possible changes to US tariff policies, some importers had accelerated contract signings and arranged early deliveries to secure supplies and reduce the risk of rising costs.
Across all markets, Vietnam's tuna exports totalled nearly USD 720 million in the first nine months, up 6 per cent year on year. In September alone, export revenue reached nearly USD 86 million, an increase of 18 per cent and the fourth consecutive month of growth.
US tightens controls on the origin of imported tuna
While exports are showing signs of recovery, Vietnamese tuna businesses need to pay close attention to changes in US seafood management policies.
US President Donald Trump has signed into law the Illegal Red Snapper and Tuna Enforcement Act, aimed at strengthening controls on illegally caught seafood and preventing origin fraud involving imports into the US market.
Under the new regulations, the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will work with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to develop standardised methods for determining the origin of imported red snapper and certain tuna species.
Notably, the US will develop rapid field-testing tools to determine, through scientific analysis, whether fish were caught in US or foreign waters.
The tools are expected to help authorities detect illegally caught fish or products whose origins have been deliberately misreported before they enter the market.
The move highlights the US's growing use of scientific methods to verify seafood origins, alongside traditional traceability documentation systems.
VASEP said Vietnamese tuna exporters should closely monitor these developments. As exports recover and competition for supplies intensifies, the ability to prove where fish were caught, ensure supply chain transparency and provide accurate labelling information will become increasingly important to maintaining market share in the US.