(vasep.com.vn) According to La Fédération française des Industries d'Aliments Conservés (FIAC), among EU block, Spain is a predominant tuna consumer with the highest average consumption per capita of 2.18 kilogram per year.
In spite of having the largest tuna fishing fleet in EU, the country still looks for raw tuna from many origins in the world due to restriction in fishing quota. In 2011, the country spent over US$436 million on buying tuna.
With high demand of raw tuna for producing tuna canneries amid shortage of domestic raw material supply, Spain imported tuna (fresh, chilled, frozen and loin) from other origins, including Vietnam.
For the year to date, Spain is one of member countries of EU which reported the most impressive growth in tuna imports from Vietnam (triple digit growth). According to Vietnam Customs statistics, in 2011, Spain ranked the fourth out of EU countries in tuna imports from Vietnam but till Feb 2012, the market outreached to the third position.
Vietnam tuna products exported to Spain was diversified, including processed/canned tuna In two recent years, tuna shipped to Spain was mainly frozen tuna fillet. Through July 2012, tuna fillet export value achieved over US$5.9 million, up 33.5 percent; fresh, live, frozen, dried tuna exports reached US$2.51 million - up 1,783 percent compared to the same period of 2011.
Yellowfin tuna, longfin tuna and skipjack tuna are widely used in canned tuna production in Spain. Mexico, the Philippines, Netherlands Antilles, South Korea and Senegal are the main suppliers of yellowfin tuna (fresh, live, frozen) for Spain. Among 37 suppliers of yellowfin tuna for the market, Vietnam ranked the 15th position. Indonesia and Thailand also exported this product to Spain but low export value.
Although hurt by European economic slowdown, Spain is still the largest tuna consumer in EU and tuna imports into the market are likely to surge in the upcoming time. Consuming demand of fresh tuna in Spain tends to decline while demand of processed and frozen finfish is on an upward trend thanks to reasonable price.
In 2012, with the favorable conditions in raw material supply (yellowfin tuna catch was up 30 percent through August over 2011), Vietnam tuna exports to Spain are expected to continue rising sharply in the near time. Spain still belongs to top 3 largest importers of Vietnam tuna among EU.
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Canned tuna demand in Spanish retail market (Unit: US$ million)
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Products
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2009
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2010
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2011
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2012
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2013
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2014
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Canned tuna
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1,180
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1,221
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1,262
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1,303
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1,343
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1,383
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(Source: datamonitor, 2012)