Asian Tuna Trade and Markets
Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy
INFOFISH
TUNA 2016
23-25 May, Bangkok
Current Tuna Market Trends
• Demand for non-canned tuna including sashimi products
remains relatively low throughout East Asia.
• Consumer demand in the main market Japan is on a declining
trend and there has been no significant improvement in China
or in other East Asian markets either, although imports of
high value seafood increased in many regional markets.
• Japan and Australia are remained large and stable regional
markets for canned tuna although imports declined into
Australia in 2015 - weaker Australia dollar
• Regional exports of canned tuna increased to West Asian
markets.
CANNED TUNA
Asian Dominance Continues in Global Supply
• Thailand, Philippines and Indonesia traditionally
are the main producers and exporters of canned
tuna
• China , Vietnam and PNG have emerged as
suppliers and making an impact on global supply of
canned tuna…increased exports in the recent
years
Thailand – the leading producer
• Despite lower raw material prices, exports of canned tuna in 2015
decreased in volume
• Due to stagnant demand from the traditional import markets, the
EU and USA
• Lower prices turned to be an advantage for non-traditional
markets, there were significantly higher exports to the Middle
East and North African markets namely: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE,
Israel, Kuwait and Qatar.
• In Latin America, Peru, Chile and Argentina were the important
markets
• Thailand also exported more canned tuna to small and new
markets in Asia and Africa.
• Imports of frozen tuna declined
• Imports of semi-processed loins increased
Philippines
• Exports of processed and canned tuna
declined in 2015 due to stagnant traditional
markets
• Major export destinations include the U.S.,
Germany, UK and Japan – supplies declined
• Increased to emerging Middle East marketsUAE, Oman, Qatar
Canned tuna: Exports from Indonesia
• Export trend was
positive in 2015
18000
16000
14000
• The main markets
were Saudi
Arabia, Japan, UK
12000
10000
Saudi Arabia
United States
8000
United Kingdom
Japan
6000
• Exports increased
also to Australia,
Libya Mexico,
UAE, SA,
Morocco, Oman
4000
2000
0
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Emerging Suppliers Making An Impact on
Global Supplies
China exported more processed tuna and less raw material
Exports
• During 2010-2015, processed tuna
140000
exports more than doubled
reaching 83 000 MT last year --- 120000
dominated with cooked loins
100000
exports to USA, Thailand and
80000
Spain
60000
• Market expansion for canned tuna
was prominent in the Africa region 40000
• In volume, China is almost equal to 20000
Indonesia as canned tuna exporter
0
Imports
• Domestic demand for canned tuna
did not improve much
• More processing done in the
domestic market
Imports
Exports
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Chinese Frozen Tuna Trade
140000
120000
100000
Imports
Exports
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
2009
•
•
•
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Frozen tuna exports totaled 118 684 MT in 2015
Main markets – Thailand, Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Iran – increasing trend
Exports of sashimi grade tuna , including loins increased to Japan +134%, the
leading market
Frozen Tuna Imports in the Three Large non-Japanese Markets
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
2009
2010
China
2011
2012
Phillppines
2013
2014
Thailand
2015
160000
140000
120000
100000
Indonesia
80000
China
Phillppines
60000
40000
20000
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Vietnam
• Growing in importance as a supplier of frozen
tuna
• Largest importers: Philippines, USA, Japan and
China
• Total exports to these destinations doubled
over a three period to more than 9000 MT
Japan and Australia are the largest markets with strong preference for high value products
2015
New Zealand
4%
Singapore
Hong
1%
South
Malaysia Kong
China
Korea
2%
2% 2%
1%
Taiwan
3%
Japan
35%
Thailand
19%
Australia
31%
• Japan – imports annually 42 000 MT of canned tuna
• Australia – 40000 MT – however weak dollar discouraged imports into
Australia in 2015
• Besides Taiwan, Malaysia and Sri Lanka where canned tuna imports
increased, imports of canned tuna were lower in most of Asia
JAPAN CANNED TUNA MARKET
60000
50000
• Imports of canned tuna rising slowly
due to the weak yen
40000
• Importing more raw material to
process canned tuna domestically
with lower raw material prices
30000
20000
10000
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Canned tuna imports in other markets
25000
India
20000
Indonesia
Sri Lanka
South Korea
15000
Singapore
Iran
10000
China
Hong Kong
Malaysia
5000
Taiwan
0
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Iran – Emerging Market
Frozen Tuna
2013
2014
2015
21 931
38 897
40441
Imported more raw materials – taking advantage of
the low price of skipjack
Sourced from: South Korea, India, China, Thailand
and Indonesia
These were for local processing and some for exports
Hence imports of canned tuna declined to almost nil
Japanese Food Promotion in Southeast
Asia-
Widespread Japanese cuisine across most of Asia
Isetan organizes Japanese festival linked promotions regularly where tuna cutting is an
attraction
Eating sushi and sashimi is an on-going fad
However, it is linked more with salmon and shrimp compared with tuna
Thailand is possibly the largest in the region with tuna servings through Japanese style
restaurants
The number of Japanese style restaurants eg in Thailand increased 2.2 times over 5
years
According to the Organization to Promote Japanese Restaurants Abroad (JRO) –
Japanese style restaurants take a 8.3% share of all restaurants in Thailand
Sashimi tuna is offered widely in mixed
packs with salmon
Conclusion
• In Asia, there were mixed trends in canned
tuna imports with some positive growth into
Southeast Asia
• The decline in canned tuna imports in some
markets-linked to higher imports of cooked
loins/frozen tuna – local processing
• However, major producers continue to target
the Middle East, Africa and Latin America