Poland with almost 39 million populations is considered to have one of the healthiest economies of the post-communist countries. This Central Europe nation had GDP growing by 6,1% in 2006 and is the example of the transition from a state-directed economy to a primarily privately owned market economy. Also from 2004 it is a member of the EU.
Poland is as well an investment-friendly climate which 70% of trade has been with the EU. In terms of import, the country buys capital goods needed for industrial retooling and manufacturing inputs, rather than imports of consumption goods.
Looking at Fishery Sector its contribution is relatively small from the perspective of the entire Polish economy. It has a 0,07% share of GDP. Employment in this segment is only a small fraction of total recruitment in Poland. However it has a special impact in some coastal regions, which depend on fisheries.
From the consumption aspect the Poles mostly consume herring (33% of the polish consumption), Alaska pollock (26%) and mackerel (11%). But tuna holds a position on the market especially for canned product.
In total Poland imported 2.026 M/T of tuna over Jan-Jun 2007 which was 18% less than in the same time in 2006. The assortment was divided into canned, frozen and minimal quantity of fresh form.
Canned tuna equaled 1.898 M/T or 213.739 cartons (48x180g) which dropped by 23% from 277.590 units. The major exporter was Thailand with 91.329 cases which also went down by 16%.
The second provider was the Netherlands with 36.712 cartons. The year before the place belonged to Mauritius which over two quarters 2007 supplied 90% less canned tuna and landed on the sixth position with 5.068 units. From the other hand Poland got more canned item from Philippines, 22.410 cartons, three times more and doubled quantity from Ivory Coast.
Although initially the Polish market was mostly a market for tuna in oil, nowadays the results of a shift in the consumption pattern has become visible with 56% of the total canned tuna volume being imported and consumed in brine. The average Pole consumes tuna at the level of 0,146 kg per capita annually, so not even a full tuna can per head,. This is very low if you consider that the average fish consumption is at the level of 7kg per person over last year. So tuna takes only a tiny share of Poland’s total fish consumption, which is dominated by canned herring, canned mackerel and surimi.
Most tuna consumed in Poland is still at the bottom of the quality spectrum, with shredded tuna flakes being the main selling item, at discount prices. Premium brands from Italy and France are working hard to upgrade the market standard to a higher level – with solid pack yellowfin un easy open cans. However they still have some way to go.
Besides canned Poland imported only a tiny amount of tuna in other forms. 127 M/T of frozen from UK and Denmark and 1 M/T of fresh during the first half 2007.
The Polish canned tuna market is the biggest among new EU members which joined the Union since 2004 and still remains a challenging market with a lot of potential in terms of expansion.
The general growth of the EU since 2004 with 12 new member has only increased the total European canned tuna import market with a meager 3,5%.