France is one of the wealthiest countries in Europe. In recent years, Vietnamese businesses have placed great emphasis on expanding trade relations with this country. Many Vietnamese goods exported to France are very popular, including tuna.
According to the International Trade Center (ITC), in 2024, France is the third-largest importer of tuna in the EU, with a trend for convenient, safe, and sustainably certified products.
In 2024, France imported about 107,000 tons of tuna, including canned tuna products, making it a major consumer in Europe. A French person consumes an average of 1.3 kg of tuna per year.
After a sharp decline in 2024 due to inflation, tuna exports to France in the first half of 2025 have recovered. Export value reached over 1.5 million USD, an increase of 108% compared to the same period in 2024.
In this European market, the consumption of canned tuna is experiencing significant growth due to the trends of quick, protein-rich meals and healthy choices. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses exporting canned tuna products.
Tuna has been one of Vietnam’s key export items in recent years.
Vietnam’s main products exported to this market in the first six months of the year include frozen tuna fillets/loins and canned tuna. In particular, compared to the same period in 2024, Vietnam’s exports of frozen tuna meat/loin products this year have increased dramatically. The VASEP said that tuna was continuously exported to this market during the first six months of the year.
However, Vietnamese tuna faces considerable difficulties related to competition in supply. In the French tuna market, Spain and Portugal hold a significant share in supplying processed products (canned and frozen fillets). They have advantages in processing scale, a short logistics chain within the EU, and a familiar brand in supermarkets.
Among non-block suppliers, Ecuador remains the main source of tuna. With its strong fishing fleet and preferential tariffs for exports to the EU, this country always offers competitive prices, especially for canned tuna.
Meanwhile, other markets such as Seychelles, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, and the Philippines have also increased their exports to France in recent years.
The VASEP believes that in 2025, Vietnamese businesses can increase exports to France if they fully utilize tariff preferences while also meeting green standards and the trend of sustainable consumption in Europe.
The export value of tuna in the first 7 months of 2025 reached about 542 million USD, a slight decrease of 2.8% compared to the same period in 2024. In July alone, exports decreased sharply by nearly 19%.
The US remains the largest market for Vietnamese tuna, with export value reaching 184 million USD in the first half of the year, accounting for nearly 39% of total export value.