In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Lithuania reached over US$14 million, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year.
While not a large increase, it is noteworthy given the ongoing pressure on tuna exports to the EU in general. More significantly, export turnover to Lithuania has shown a clear recovery in recent months, opening up another promising destination for Vietnamese businesses in the European market.
Growth, but not in a straight line
According to Vietnamese Customs data, tuna exports to Lithuania in the first eight months of the year reached US$14 million, an 8% increase compared to the same period in 2025. The monthly trends were quite erratic. January saw increases, but February and March saw decreases. In April, exports surged by 85%, then fell by 30% in May. From June onwards, the market began to improve significantly and increased continuously for the next two months.
Thus, the cumulative 8% increase was mainly driven by a strong recovery in the third quarter, rather than stable growth from the beginning of the year. This is also why businesses need to be cautious when assessing the long-term prospects of this market.
A small bright spot amidst a struggling EU market
Lithuania is not Vietnam’s largest tuna market in the EU. However, the fact that this market continues to grow while tuna exports to the EU as a whole are declining makes Lithuania a noteworthy option.
Amid low demand in Europe, importers tend to be more cautious about inventory and delivery schedules. Vietnamese tuna exports to the EU are also facing pressure from increasingly stringent traceability requirements and fishing controls.
