Thailand is the world's largest exporter of canned and processed tuna. In 2009, exports and exports accounted for 49.1% and 43.2% of the world's total respectively. However, Thailand imports more than 80 per cent of its tuna raw materials, with frozen and fresh/frozen tuna accounting for 97.6 per cent and 0.8 per cent of its total imports, respectively.

 

 

 

In the first half of 2010, Thailand's imports of fresh/frozen and frozen tuna increased by 7.9% and 12.9% year-on-year, respectively, indicating that the import demand of raw materials for the canned/processed tuna industry in Thailand tended to be higher in 2010 than in 2009, consistent with the trend of 15.3% year-on-year increase in the export of canned/processed tuna, which accounted for 15.3% of Thai gold. The export volume of tuna products is 98.6%.

 

 

 

The Taihua Farmers'Research Center predicts that Thai tuna exports, especially canned/processed tuna, will continue to grow in the second half of the year, mainly in support of the fact that trading partners usually increase orders for canned tuna in the second half of each year to reserve supplies for sales during the end-of-year holidays. The export volume of canned and processed tuna in Thailand is expected to increase by 11-12% year-on-year in 2010.

 

 

 

However, there are still possible negative factors affecting the tuna processing industry, mainly due to the reduction of global tuna population due to global warming, and the continued increase in tuna consumption, resulting in long-term bullish tuna prices, operators should pay close attention to and properly develop raw material procurement management plans.

 

 

 

In addition, Thai tuna processing enterprises should also take into account the positive and negative effects of various trade agreements and related measures, which on the one hand help to expand the export channels of Thai tuna products, but also encounter tariff or non-tariff trade barriers, such as food hygiene and pollution control measures. The rules of origin, as well as the problem of aquaculture operators' lower than normal treatment, employment, labor force and so on.