This result made Portugal one of Viet Nam’s ten largest tuna importers, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

In the period, Portugal imported over US$2.5 million worth of tuna fillet from Viet Nam , up over 941 percent over the same period last year and 1.4 times higher than the 2012 figure. As a result, Viet Nam becomes the second largest tuna exporter to Portugal after Spain.

Viet Nam also recorded a strong surge in exporting fresh and frozen tuna products to the European country in the period, raking in more than US$924,000, up 67 percent year-on-year.

The Southeast Asian nation ranked fourth among exporters of processed tuna products to Portugal with an export value of almost US$809,000.

It is forecast that the exports of Viet Nam’s steamed tuna fillet to the European country will continue to increase in the coming time.

However, with recent requirements of the Earth Island organisation regarding the “Dolphin safe” label on tuna products, Vietnamese exporters will likely meet difficulties in maintaining its growth as present.