Tensions Rising In French Tuna Price Battle Between Canners And Retailers

News 09:11 27/02/2013 502
French tuna canners are urging retailers to raise the retail price of their products, and if the demands aren’t met, they will be less likely to invest in sustainable fishing due to lower profits, says Pierre Commere, director of Adepale, the country’s association of processors.

The canners have been dealing with higher raw material prices over the past 18 months, while the selling price of the finished product in France has barely budged. The prices of raw yellowfin and skipjack tuna have risen by 41% and 74% respectively, while canned tuna is retailing for EUR 8.30 per kilo, an increase of only EUR 0.20 from 2009.

Besides the surge in raw material prices, which represent about 45-65% of the finished product, steel and vegetable oil prices have also increased globally, according to FIAC Poissons, the fish division of the French canners association.

Over the past two years, the canners managed to pass on “only between 20-40% of the increase that they would have needed to maintain their profitability,” says Commere.

If the retail prices are not raised to reflect the higher production costs, “then profitability is lower and the capacity to invest in sustainable fishing production improvement is lower, and French canners will be in a more difficult situation,” says Commere.

In 2011, about 88% of French households bought canned tuna for a total of roughly 66,350 tons – making it the most popular canned fish product in France. It is purchased by consumers from all income levels and is popular especially in the spring and summer, according to FIAC.

Tuna was also the most produced canned fish item in 2011 in France, with French canners producing 115 million tuna cans or 20,700 tons.

With supermarkets battling to have the lowest prices possible for consumers, tensions are “high” during the annual negotiations, which have to be settled before Feb. 28, says Commere. 

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

30 years of Viet Nam - US seafood trade: From emerging market to strategic export pillar

 |  08:53 19/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States (1995–2025). In parallel with the nation's progress in international economic integration, bilateral seafood trade has followed a remarkably impressive growth trajectory, expanding from an initial scale of just tens of millions of US dollars to nearly $2 billion annually. This growth has positioned the United States as Vietnam’s largest seafood export market for many consecutive years.

VASEP calls on its member enterprises to strengthen efforts to combat IUU fishing and to work alongside the Government in lifting the EC yellow card

 |  09:43 17/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 12, 2025, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (VASEP) issued document 231/CV-VASEP regarding strengthening measures to combat IUU fishing and working with the Government to lift the EC's IUU yellow card warning.

Vietnam’s tilapia makes its mark thanks to sustainability and nutritional value

 |  09:26 12/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Tilapia is easy to farm and provides high economic and nutritional value, making it a sought-after export commodity in many countries.

Vietnam’s seafood exports in 2025 are heading towards the USD 11 billion mark

 |  08:50 10/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in the first 10 months of 2025 recorded significant progress, reaching more than USD 9.5 billion, up 15% year-on-year. This result reflects the sector’s persistent efforts amid a highly volatile market, especially policy shocks from the US Although signs of slowdown emerged in the third quarter due to countervailing taxes, key product groups still maintained strong momentum and created a foundation for full-year exports to reach USD 11 billion.

Vietnam’s tuna on the brink of 0% tariffs in the U.S: Breakthrough potential but significant challenges remain

 |  08:37 08/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s agreement with the United States on a framework for reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade—reached during the 2025 ASEAN Summit in Malaysia—has generated strong optimism for Vietnamese exports, including tuna. Numerous positive points in the joint statement have raised high expectations for Vietnamese export goods, but turning these expectations into tangible benefits remains a long and challenging journey.

Solutions to promote Ca Mau crab exports

 |  09:16 04/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At the conference on “Linking the Production and Consumption Chain of Ca Mau Crab 2025,” Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee Lê Văn Sử posed a central question: how to shift the province’s crab exports toward official trade channels, instead of relying heavily on small-scale border trade with China as currently practiced.

Japanese market expands its demand for Vietnamese pangasius

 |  09:16 03/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The whitefish market in Japan is showing a clear divergence among supplying countries, in which Vietnam continues to affirm its role as a stable and high-potential exporter. Vietnam currently ranks third after the US and Russia in whitefish export value to Japan. Thanks to tariff incentives and the ability to meet Japan’s strict standards, Vietnamese pangasius continues to record a stable and positive growth trend.

Ca Mau expands RAS-IMTA shrimp farming model to 1,500 hectares

 |  09:16 01/12/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The People's Committee of Ca Mau Province has just issued a plan to expand the super-intensive, low-water-exchange, biosecure white-leg shrimp farming model (RAS-IMTA) for whiteleg shrimp farming to a scale of 1,500 hectares, aiming to develop high-tech, sustainable and environmentally friendly shrimp farming.

Sa Giang plans to double its charter capital, raising 465 billion VND to invest in Hoan Ngoc Food.

 |  15:21 27/11/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HNX: SGC) plans to issue over 7.1 million shares to raise nearly 465 Billion VND for Hoan Ngoc M&A Deal.

Vietnam’s tilapia industry accelerates: From short-term opportunities to long-term strategy

 |  09:19 27/11/2025

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Rabobank, global tilapia production is forecast to exceed 7 million tons in 2025, driven by a strong recovery in major producing countries including China, Indonesia, Egypt, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Among them, Vietnam is emerging as a potential tilapia supplier in the global supply chain, capitalizing on market fluctuations to expand production and exports.

VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM

Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội

Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO

Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu

Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn

Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh

Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn

VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn

© Copyright 2020 - Mọi hình thức sao chép phải được sự chấp thuận bằng văn bản của VASEP

DANH MỤC