The expansion of the European Union since 2004 with 12 new member states has only increased the total European canned tuna market with a meager 3.5%. This is the tiny share that these countries hold combined in sales for tuna in oil and in brine during 2006. They hardly play any significant role in the European market at this stage, but have an enormous potential for expansion, at the same time, considering that these countries together have more than 80 million souls.
In 2006 the 12 newcomers imported together 9,507 M/T or 1.520,079 cartons of 48 x 185g net of canned tuna. This is 7% more than in 2005.
Looking at the two last years, the inhabitants of the 12 new states ate more tuna in oil than in brine. However the group –dominated by the Eastern Europeans - showed a much greater appetite for product in oil. Canned tuna in brine decreased by 17%, while canned tuna in oil reached a 19% higher level. Tuna in oil has 63% share of total canned tuna on this relatively new European markets.
If we compare all these markets,
