The domestic tuna industry will find it difficult to reach its export value target for the year because of reduction in exports since the beginning of this year.

According to the Vietnam Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the exports of tuna, the seafood product having the third largest export value after shrimp and tra fish, reduced in volume and value two years ago.

Last year, its export value had a year-on-year fall of 7 percent to 526 million USD, the association said.

However, that expectation was cut to 450 million USD for this year because of numerous challenges faced by local tuna exporters, it said.

In major export markets of Vietnamese tuna, including the US, Japan and ASEAN, exports of the local tuna reduced since the end of last year.

In the first five months of this year, Vietnam exported tuna products to 86 markets in the world, 16 markets more than in the same period last year. But the total export value of tuna saw a year-on-year drop of 19 percent to 203.8 million USD.

During the first five months, the tuna export value to the US and ASEAN countries dropped 26.5 percent and 29.5 percent, respectively.

The tuna export value to Japan had a growth against the same period of last year, it said. Meanwhile, the value to the EU had a year-on-year increase of 0.6 percent.

Therefore, the association said that by this year-end, Vietnamese tuna products would find it difficult to reach the industry's export target for this year.

The reasons for the reduction in export value include lack of supply, trade barriers and competition with other tuna exporting countries. The export markets have also tightened activities on managing food hygiene and safety.

These actions have made it difficult for local tuna exporters in increasing business in the large markets.-VNA