Thailand is the world largest producer of canned tuna, and generally marine fisheries have a significant socio-economic role in Thailand with a long tradition. Seafood is a primary accessible animal protein food for its 63 million population. In addition, seafood is one of the top industries that generate major income for the Asian nation.
Beyond any doubt canned tuna has been the leading export product with the production at the level of 49 million cartons of 48 x185g canned tuna in 2007, the equivalent of 24% of the worlds manufactured volume.
Thailand delivered the largest part of its canned tuna to USA, Australia and Libya in 2007. According to the Thai customs data the USA got 9.448.423 cartons last year, 8% more. Australian and Libyan volumes went each up by 3% and rose to 3.554.167 and 3.199.437 units respectively.
The entire Thai export of canned tuna equaled 49.578.266 cases through 2007, 6% more than in 2006.
But if we look at two major tuna markets, the USA and the EU, Thailand provided there together 182.076 M/T of tuna products over 2007 which was 8% less compared with the previous year when the supply equaled 198.119 M/T.
According to NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) source, Thailand delivered to the USA 94.506 M/T of tuna items in 2007 which was 11% less than the year before. The quantity of canned shrank by 11% and landed at 66.130 M/T or 8.104.167 cartons (48x170g).
Pouched was the second product in terms of volume with 18.739 M/T, 1% bigger during last year. From the other hand the amount of frozen pre-cooked loins fell by 37% and dropped to 7.832 M/T.
Also frozen whole round tuna and fresh w/r tuna appeared in the Thai assortment provided to the USA but quantities of these items were much smaller compared with volumes of other tuna products.
Thailand had 35% share of the U.S tuna market in 2007 when in the previous year the contribution equaled 38%.
In regard to the European Union the Asian supplier exported 87.570 M/T of tuna products, which was 5% less than in 2006. Canned form was the leading item in this market as well. However in 2007 there was significant stagnation and volumes decreased by 25% to 56.070 M/T or 6.314.189 cartons (48x185g). The UK was the first destination with 12.178 M/T (or 1.371.396 cases) and was followed by Germany.
In terms of volume Thailand was the second exporter of canned tuna to the EU after Ecuador over last year, where it once took the no: 1 position .
Despite the decrease of the Thai entire supply to the EU, still the export volume for specific tuna products went up. For example the volume of frozen w/r exploded by 90% 21.673 M/T. Yellowfin was the main species with 17.607 M/T and was almost entirely responsible for the increase. The main part of this fish was shipped to canneries in Spain (9.522 M/T ).
Also their was a strong increase in the shipments of frozen pre-cooked loins – which surged by 95% reaching 9.188 M/T with Italy as the main destination.
It is obvious that under influence of the changing balances in the world tuna market in terms of currencies ( the fall of the USdollar and strengthening of the Euro ) , but also affected by the decline in catches, the Thai tuna industry has been adjusting its output and choice of products, maintaining its position as the worlds leading processed tuna supplier.