The catch of various kinds of tuna decreased.

 

Over the past few years, yellowfin tuna fisheries in eastern India and Western Pacific Ocean waters have been disappointing. The price of yellowfin tuna has risen sharply. During 2006, the price of the bonito fish was reduced to $885 / ton.

 

However, in early 2007, prices continued to rise to $1075 per ton, owing to a significant reduction in fishing and a shortage of supply and demand.

 

Decline in canned tuna products in Europe

 

For a long time, imports of tuna raw materials for canning in France have been declining as canning plants have been shut down in large numbers. In 2006, imports of tuna raw materials decreased by 20% compared with the year before. Surprisingly, on the whole, tuna imports in the French market only declined slightly last year. But imports of tuna lumps have fallen sharply, and the remaining tuna canneries in France focus on producing high-quality products at relatively high prices.  However, 60% of tuna products imported from the French market are tuna pieces.

 

Since 2005, imports of tuna raw materials have been on the rise in the Italian market, and this trend has continued until 2006. Last year, imports of tuna raw materials in the Italian tuna market reached 56,000 tons, slightly higher than the same period in the previous year. Among them, tuna block imports expanded to 43000 tons, accounting for 73% of tuna imports in the Italy market. In 2005 and 1999, tuna stocks imported from Italy accounted for 66% and 47% of tuna raw materials respectively. Cheap labor costs make it easier for Europe to buy tuna lumps from zero-tariff countries, such as some in the Andes.

 

In recent years, the traditional high-quality canned tuna products in Spain have been made from tuna lumps. Now, however, Spanish tuna canneries are also following market rules, with labor costs being the main factor.

 

 

As mentioned on several occasions, the Spanish tuna processing plant is generally located in the Central American or Andean countries, mainly processing tuna lumps and, of course, producing some canned tuna for the Spanish market. This change has already had a preliminary impact on the current tuna import industry, and more will occur in the coming years. One sign is that the Andean countries and the Central American countries abolished the zero tariff policy. This has been advocated by the Spanish tuna industry for many years and was accepted without much doubt in early 2006.

 

Tuna lumps currently account for 40% of total imports in Spain, compared with 8% in 2002. In 2006, the import of tuna pieces in Spain reached 37500 tons, an increase of 5% over 2005. Ecuador (where Spain has invested a lot in tuna canneries) is a major supplier to the Spanish tuna market.

 

Canned tuna market expanded in Europe

 

In 2006, the purchasing power of canned tuna in most European countries increased, and the major suppliers remained those with investments from European producers. It is noteworthy that Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia cut tariffs, to a certain extent, have an advantage in expanding their sales in the European market. Canned tuna products in these countries are mainly supplied to supermarkets and retailers. The price of canned tuna increased last year and is likely to rise further in the next few months. Shortages of tuna raw materials and expensive prices are the main reasons for the rise in canned tuna prices.

 

Spain and the United Kingdom are the main canned tuna consuming countries in Europe. However, Spain still relies mainly on its own canned tuna industry. All canned tuna in Britain are imported. Canned tuna consumption per capita in two countries was 4 kg (net weight).  This shows that the UK is an important seafood consuming country, and the per capita seafood consumption is around 20 kg. Tuna consumption accounts for 20%. Tuna canned imports are steady at around 132000 tons a year in Britain. The main suppliers of canned fish products in the UK have their own brands, such as Seychelles, Mauritius and Ghana, while Thailand has its own independent trademarks, and the products mainly go to supermarkets. In 2006, the supply of major canned tuna suppliers in the United Kingdom increased, with the exception of Ghana, where the decline was mainly due to weather and rising fuel prices, and where tuna fishing declined substantially in 2006.

 

France is the third largest importer of canned tuna, second only to the United States and Britain. However, in recent years, the import of tuna in France has been stable at 105000 tons. On the face of it, C te d 'Ivoire has overcome major problems and is optimistic about the future. In 2006, imports of canned tuna in the French market declined slightly. However, with the introduction of a new management plan for major canneries, imports in the French market are expected to resume in full in 2007. Seychelles has tightly controlled the quality of its products, and French imports from Seychelles are expected to return to 2005 levels in 2007.

 

Relatively speaking, Germany is a smaller canned tuna market with an annual import volume of 80000 tons. The per capita consumption is 2 kg / year. Holland is a country through which tuna canned mainly from Ecuador and Garner. It is worth noting that in July 2006, Thailand reduced tariffs and took the lead. Philippines - Mainly committed to the development of the catering industry, remains the main supplier of canned tuna products in the German Market