US Pouch Importers Anticipated Effects Of Upcoming Tariffs  

US buyers increased their purchases of tuna pouches from January to June this year at a slightly lower average price compared to the same period in 2024. US President Donald Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs in April, which was the main reason for retailers, brands, and traders to make steadfast buying in H1.

The US imported 27,749 M/T of pouches in the first half of 2025 at an average price of USD 5,334 per ton. All major suppliers increased their trade with the US with most of them selling the product at a lower price YoY. A 12 percent growth from H1 2024 when trade declined. Trump announced additional tariffs (reciprocal taxes) on all major tuna-supplying nations’ products in April. Items from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia were facing one of the highest extra duties at 36 percent, 46 percent, and 32 percent, respectively.

Thailand processors, who continued to be the largest sellers of the product, shipped 11,165 M/T at a competitive price of USD 5,027 per ton. Canners had enough raw material to accelerate deliveries as they imported a record volume of frozen whole rounds in 2024. Atuna reported earlier this year that they increased their whole round buying by a quarter last year. However, skipjack catches for this year has been at a low.

Thai canners’ counterpart, the Ecuadorians, pushed up their shipments by selling 3,567 ton more pouches, up 47 percent, at an above-average price of USD 5,635 per ton. A part of the shipment contained premium yellowfin produced by the StarKist plant in Guayaquil. The EPO skipjack captures were extraordinarily high in 2024 and, despite lower catches at the beginning of this year, remained at an average high volume.

StarKist reduced its buying from the Dongwon-owned plant in Senegal. A total of 3,784 M/T were delivered to US retailers, brands, and traders at the highest price of USD 6,191 per ton, indicating it contained premium yellowfin. The US’ business with the African nation has been on a downward trajectory from the beginning of this year.

The Asians increased trade with the US in H1 2025. The Vietnamese sold 10 M/T more pouches, YoY, to mostly foodservice and retail. The product was sold at the lowest price of USD 2,720, 35 percent less compared to the same period in 2024. The Indonesians, who have lately emerged as top sellers of the product by pushing down the Filipinos, shipped 64 percent more at a bargain rate of USD 3,298 for a ton.