Vietnam 's tuna exports were valued at nearly 312 million USD duringthe first seven months of the year, a rise of 42.3 percent compared tothe same period last year, according to the Vietnam Association ofSeafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The main marketsfor Vietnamese tuna exporters are the US, Japan, the EU and theMiddle East, with the US accounting for 50 percent of all tunaexports.

The association said Vietnam recorded a 33percent increase in earnings for tuna exports to the US during thefirst seven months, compared to the same period last year, bringingtotal earnings to nearly 144 million USD.

Similar to theUS market, Vietnam's tuna export to Japan hit record highs, up by about46 percent compared with the same period last year, with 39.5 millionUSD in earnings, said VASEP.

As predicted, Vietnam's tuna exports to Europe are also on the rise.

The association reported that Vietnam saw a year-on-year increaseof 82.5 percent in the value of tuna exports during the second quarterwith earnings of 28.3 million USD.

Tuna exports to the Middle East were also growing, but earnings were still at a modest level, said VASEP.

Israel, Sudan and Lebanon were among the biggest regional importers ofVietnamese tuna, spending a total of 6.4 million USD, which accountedfor 70 percent of all tuna exports to the Middel East, VASEP added.-VNA