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Focus On: FIJIff

30 January 2008 The Netherlands

Fiji is the largest island economy in the Pacific region after Papua New Guinea, and has only population of 853 thousands people. Fiji occupies an archipelago of about 322 islands, of which 106 are permanently inhabited, and 522 tiny islets. The two major islands Vite levu  and Vanua Levu account for 87% of the population. The main economic sources of income for the country are tourism, forestry, minerals and fisheries.

Fiji exported a variety of tuna products for which the main markets were Europe , USA, Japan and Australia.  This report will only focus on Fiji exports to the US and the EU, since this no data on other export markets was available.  Over the first 3 quarters of 2007 this Pacific nation exported combined 7.771 M/T of pre-cooked tuna loins, 1378 M/T of fresh raw tuna  and 353 M/T of frozen,  to the  two biggest tuna markets, the United States and the European Union.

Albacore and yellowfin are the major species being exported by Fiji. This tuna is mostly caught and landed by longliners.  

For pre-cooked loins , the major Fiji tuna export product, the United States were the sole destination, the exports volume fell by 14 % compared to last year, when until October 9.045 M/T was shipped. Bumble bee has been the main buyer of albacore pre-cooked tuna loins, which the U.S company uses to produce canned albacore or white meat.

Generally Fiji is considered a favorable origin for fresh tuna. Due to the flourishing tourist sector , unlike most other Pacific Islands, Fiji enjoys excellent air connections to Europe and the USA, which are vital for a solid fresh tuna supply chain.  In the fresh tuna segment the export of bigeye tunas to the US nevertheless decreased by 91% from 1.382 M/T to 120 M/T, while yellowfin shipments  to America shrank by 34% and Albacore dropped by 19%.

Last year Fiji air cargoed 394 M/T of fresh yellowfin tuna loins to the EU. The majority of the European supply went to the U.K, while the rest was shipped to France and Belgium.

In the frozen tuna segment Europe was definitely not an important destination, it took only 1 M/T of Frozen Yellowfin. However 352 M/T of the frozen tuna went to the USA, being divided into 235 M/T of frozen tuna fillets and 117 M/T of frozen round Albacore. All this frozen tuna was destined for the catering and restaurant business segment.

On the U.S. market Fiji had 4% share of all tuna imports over nine months 2007, dropping from a 5% share last year.

In Europe Fiji holds only a tiny 0,04% share of the total tuna import market. Of all tuna exported from the Pacific to Europe ( the worlds most productive tuna catching ground ) Fiji only covered 1% of the volume. On Nov. 2007 the Pacific country signed its EPA (Economic Partnership Agreement) with the EU. The agreement was signed to ensure the Fijian export of tuna to the Europe Union, and duty free access to its member states.