Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers administration chief Nguyen Minh Tam quoted statistics showing tuna exports to the US market have reached their highest level at 4,000 tonnes, worth US$20 million, five times higher than the same period last year in both quantity and value. 

Last year, the US imported 19,000 tonnes of tuna worth US$67 million from Vietnam. 
Tam said exports to Japan, Taiwan and Canadian markets have increased at least 100 percent in quantity and value. 

Exporters are now focusing on emerging markets, including the Bahamas and Libya, which have considerable export potential in comparison with the traditional markets of Canada and Israel. 

Total export turnover to the EU in the first two months of this year rose 4.5 percent due to high export volume in January. 

In the first two months of the year, the EU imported 44,400 tonnes of seafood products from Vietnam worth US$128.3 million. 

The association forecast tuna productivity would soon fall, driving prices higher.