(EFE) The Spanish National Association of Manufacturers of Canned Fish and Seafood (Anfaco-Cecopesca) earlier this week warned that the lack of raw material supply derived from the EU trade policy and the restrictions on third countries is “putting a halt” to the Spanish tuna canning industry.
In a statement, Anfaco indicates that the European processing industry of canned tuna has more and more problems in obtaining raw material supply -despite the stabilization of the world catches at 4 million tons- because of the increased demand by third countries.
Anfaco stressed that the recent development of industries in third countries, such as the case of the new plants in Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Mauritius Islands, Madagascar, Indonesia, among others, has “substantially” increased the demand for tuna in these parts of the world, which has already major producers located in Thailand and Philippines.
ANFACO did not mention the development over the last decade of tuna canneries in Latin America, often through the support of investments by the Spanish canning industry. With demand for canned tuna rising in Latin America, also supply from these loining plants could be getting tighter. Spanish canneries are largely depending on pre-cooked tuna loins from this region.