India is trying hard to become a worthy player in the global tuna industry.

This country increased its export volume of tuna products by 43% between the fiscal year 2005-2006 and last year.

Frozen tuna is India’s major item, with a 97% of the total tuna supply. India exported 23.765 M/T of frozen tuna this last fiscal year, therefore 6.148 M/T more than the previous year, representing a staggering 37% increase.

 

India also exported considerably smaller quantities of canned tuna (758 M/T) and chilled tuna (18 M/T) during 2007. Another exported tuna item was dried tuna. Although India had not exported any dried tuna during 2006, according to statistics, it managed to supply 248 M/T of this new item in 2007.

The total value of India’s tuna exports during the 2006-2007 fiscal year reached US$ 29.54 million; 88% more than the previous year.

The main destinations for Indian tuna products are Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Europe and the United States. Most products to Sri Lanka are re-exported by that country to the European Union, as raw tuna loins.