Sharp Growth Of Indian Tuna Exportx To EUff

India’s tuna supplies to the European Union (EU) are climbing up at a staggering speed.

During the first half of 2007, the EU imports of Indian tuna products increased by an amazing 26 times more than during the same period in 2006; from 85 tons to 2.215 tons.

This remarkable growth was almost single handedly achieved by frozen yellowfin tuna, which is undoubtedly India’s main tuna product entering the EU, representing nearly 99 % of the total imports between January and June 2007. 

The major importer of Indian frozen yellowfin was Spain, both in 2007 as well as in 2006. During the first 6 months of 2007, of the total 2.188 tons of frozen yellowfin tuna from India entering the EU, 93% went to Spain. The small remainder went to Italy, France and the United Kingdom (UK). 

As far as Indian canned tuna is concerned, imports to the EU from January through June in 2007 was less than a third of the quantity imported during this same period in 2006, declining from 63 tons to 28 tons. This item was exclusively imported by the UK.

Other tuna products coming from Indian end entering the EU -such as fresh skipjack imported only by Spain and frozen skipjack imported only by Italy- concerned only small quantities falling far behind the frozen yellowfin tuna figures.