By Atuna
European Union (EU) trade statistics show that Germany has exponentially decreased imports of canned tuna from other EU countries in 2009. This 59% cut in imports compared to 2008 shows a dramatic change in the distribution pattern towards the German market. German canned tuna imports from EU dropped from 25.915 MT to 10.772 MT during a one-year period.
Imports from non-EU countries have actually increased in 2009 by 3%, but they did not counterbalance the lower amount supplied by member states. As a result, Germany’s imports of canned tuna -in total- were down in 17% last year, from 80.946 MT in 2008 to 67.298 MT.
Non-tuna producing EU countries, such as The Netherlands, only fulfill a function merely as a major storage location for imports arriving into Rotterdam port, and then finally trucked to the end destination: supermarkets in Germany. The large discounters Aldi and Lidl, and some large German importers are known to hold canned tuna stocks in The Netherlands – due to its strategic location and low trucking charges.
The drop in imports from the tuna producing nations France and Italy might have a relation towards the business of Bolton, which holds a large market share with its Saupiquet brand in Germany and is also marketing the Rio Mare brand. France is also a major producer of canned tuna salads for Germany.
Remarkable is the drop in imports from Ecuador – which saw its business shift towards Indonesia. In 2009, Indonesian canned tuna exporters shipped about 77 more 20ft containers of canned tuna to Germany.
The overall 17% drop in exports can best be accounted to the slowing economy and the lower confidence by the importers and retailers to take high stock levels.
