Thai and Vietnamese tuna exports to the Middle East are recovering

Compared with 2022, Thailand's tuna exports to this market fell by 21% in value and 27% in volume. The Middle East fell to second place in Thailand's export market after the United States, accounting for 22% of total exports in 2023. Entering 2024, Vietnam and Thailand's tuna exports to the Middle East are recovering. Although Vietnam's tuna exports to this market have been unstable, Thailand's exports are increasing. According to Thai customs statistics, the country's total tuna exports in the first two months of 2024 were nearly US$124 million, an increase of 26% over the same period in 2023. Among the Middle Eastern countries, Saudi Arabia is the largest buyer of Thai tuna and the country's fifth largest single export market, accounting for Thailand's 2023 Saudi Arabia is also one of the few Middle Eastern countries that has increased its purchases of Thai tuna in the past year. Thai tuna ranks first ...