A tuna is weighed in Khanh Hoa province.(Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) — The Middle East hasbecome the fourth largest importer of Vietnamese tuna, behind only the US, theEU, and the CPTPP market, accounting for nearly 10% of Vietnam’s totaltuna export turnover, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters andProducers (VASEP) has said.
Statistics from the General Department of Customs showed that Vietnamlast year exported 82 million USD worth of tuna to the bloc.
Vietnamese tuna exports to several markets throughout the MiddleEast region recorded a considerable surge in 2023 compared to the previousyear.
Specifically, tuna exports to Israel, Lebanon, the United ArabEmirates (UAE), and Turkey climbed by 37%, 17%, 23%, and 73%, respectively.
Exports to other markets in the bloc saw a strong declineincluding Egypt, down 47%, and Saudi Arabia, down 78%.
In recent years, facing many challenges from main consumermarkets, Vietnamese tuna businesses have looked to smaller markets withpotential such as the Middle East to diversify export markets.
But the bloc also sets forth high requirements for imported foodproducts, including Halal certification, forcing local firms to process andpackage appropriately to meet these requirements.
Last year, Vietnamese tuna exports hit 845 million USD, a year-on-yeardecrease of 17%, according to VASEP.
In December alone, however, the exports recorded a slight increaseof 7% year-on-year to 73 million USD, it said.
Vietnamese's tuna products are being shipped to 99 markets aroundthe world.
