(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Despite the decrease in 2015, Italy's tuna imports in 2016 had recovered. In Jan-Aug 2016, Italy’s tuna imports totaled US$563 million, up 5.3% compared to the same period in 2015. In late 2016, thanks to higher demand for holidays, tuna imports into the country expected to continue the rise.
Imports of canned & processed tuna (HS code 16) into Italy made up the largest share, followed by those of fresh/chilled/frozen tuna (HS code 03) and frozen tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304). In the first 8 months of this year, imports of canned tuna into Italy amounted to US$459 million, up 1.5% year on year. At the same time, imports of fresh/chilled/frozen tuna (HS code 03) and frozen tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304) also rose by 22.4% and 42.3%, respectively, over a year before.
|
TUNA IMPORTS INTO ITALY BY PRODUCTS (thousand US$)
|
|
Products
|
Jan-Aug 2015
|
Jan-Aug 2016
|
Variation (%)
|
|
Total
|
534,260
|
562,663
|
5.3
|
|
Processed & canned tuna (HS code 16)
|
452,027
|
458,750
|
1.5
|
|
Fresh/chilled/frozen tuna (HS code 03)
|
65,771
|
80,494
|
22.4
|
|
Frozen tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304)
|
16,462
|
23,419
|
42.3
|
Italy currently increased imports of tuna from Viet Nam. As of Oct 2016, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Italy valued at over US$27 million, up 147% compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam’s exports of fresh/live/frozen/dried tuna (HS code 03) to this market took up a large proportion. Exports of the items to Italy in the first 10 months of this year reached US$18 million, up 69% from the prior year. In particular, Vietnam’s exports of other processed tuna to Italy increased sharply, with the value of US$9.4 million. Therefore, exports of processed & canned tuna to the market increased by 2.3% over the same same period last year, although exports of canned tuna fell.
Vietnam claimed as the 9th largest supplier of tuna to Italy.
|
TUNA IMPORTS INTO ITALY BY MARKETS
|
|
Suppliers
|
Jan-Aug 2015
|
Jan-Aug 2016
|
Variation (%)
|
|
Ecuador
|
37,219
|
44,714
|
20.1
|
|
Mauritius
|
30,694
|
44,104
|
43.7
|
|
Côte d'Ivoire
|
14,959
|
42,477
|
184.0
|
|
Indonesia
|
35,907
|
39,618
|
10.3
|
|
Seychelles
|
25,964
|
34,014
|
31.0
|
|
Solomon Islands
|
26,934
|
24,141
|
-10.4
|
|
Thailand
|
24,762
|
18,281
|
-26.2
|
|
South Korea
|
11,890
|
15,380
|
29.4
|
|
Viet Nam
|
9,200
|
15,296
|
66.3
|
|
El Salvador
|
10,923
|
14,721
|
34.8
|
|
Others
|
305,808
|
269,917
|
-11.7
|
|
Total
|
534,260
|
562,663
|
5.3
|
Fresh/chilled/frozen tuna (HS code 03) and frozen tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304) from Asian countries currently picked up a large share in Italy. South Korea, Viet Nam, Thailand and the Philippines were respectively 4 largest suppliers to Italy. Viet Nam ranked the 2nd with the proportion of 11.6% in total imports of fresh/chilled/ frozen tuna into Italy. Meanwhile, Thailand and the Philippines accounted for 5.3% and 5.1%, respectively.
In particular, Vietnam’s exports of frozen yellowfin tuna to Italy accounted for the biggest share of 27% in Jan-Aug this year, despite being subject to higher tax (3.7%) than the Philippines and South Korea (0%). Meanwhile, imports from South Korea accounted for 13%, Thailand with 12% and the Philippines with 11.6%.
Written by Nguyen Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy