Madagascar exported 1.282.882 cartons of canned tuna in brine (based on 48 x185g net) to France and it was 90% of 1.425.653 cartons, the total island’s delivery in 2006. Since European import statistics do not make a distinction between canned tuna in brine and pouched tuna in brine, this numbers represents the combined volume of these 2 items. Madagascar also has an increasing export of tuna pouches for food service.
During last year Madagascar supplied these tuna products also to five other European countries like UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy and Finland but these states had only small percentages of export share.
The island’s delivery of canned tuna in natural water dropped 22% in 2006. During last year the nation did not supply any tuna items to Germany as it did in the period from 2000 to 2005. Madagascar also exported less tuna in brine to majority of its European markets. The biggest cutback was posted in the Netherlands where supply dropped from 276.565 to 20.946 cartons.
The entire canned tuna volume is produced by the only cannery on the island named Conserverie PFOI (Peche et Froid Ocean Indien) located in port of Antsiranana also known as Diego Suarez. The cannery is owned by the Peche et Froid S.A. in France, which markets its Pompom Rouge canned tuna brand in France. The French company OPTORG (groupe ONA) is again the leading shareholder of Peche et Froid S.A. in France.
